diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 60876044e..ee6409366 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -673,6 +673,22 @@ endif()
 
 include(CheckCSourceCompiles)
 
+if(NOT USE_LUAJIT)
+	set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_INCLUDES ${LUA_INCLUDE_DIR})
+	unset(HAVE_ATCCALL CACHE)
+	# Note: we need to check the function without having the library
+	#       available for linking, so check_symbol_exists won't work.
+	check_c_source_compiles("#include <lua.h>\nint main(){return sizeof(lua_atccall);}" HAVE_ATCCALL)
+	if(NOT HAVE_ATCCALL)
+		string(CONCAT explanation_msg
+			"It looks like you're trying to build Minetest using a system-wide "
+			"Lua installation. This is no longer supported because PUC Lua "
+			"cannot interoperate with C++ correctly. Read src/unittest/test_lua.cpp "
+			" for technical details.")
+		message(FATAL_ERROR ${explanation_msg})
+	endif()
+endif()
+
 if(MSVC)
 	# Visual Studio
 	set(CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS "${CMAKE_CXX_FLAGS} /D WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN")