diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index b6ebac4f5..839b3e51a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -124,6 +124,16 @@ ifeq ($(NIM_PARAMS),)
 # The `git reset ...` will try to fix a `make update` that was interrupted
 # with Ctrl+C after deleting the working copy and before getting a chance to
 # restore it in $(BUILD_SYSTEM_DIR).
+
+# `vendor/holesky` requires Git LFS
+ifeq (, $(shell which git-lfs))
+ifeq ($(shell uname), Darwin)
+$(error Git LFS not installed. Run 'brew install git-lfs' to set up)
+else
+$(error Git LFS not installed)
+endif
+endif
+
 GIT_SUBMODULE_UPDATE := git submodule update --init --recursive
 .DEFAULT:
 	+@ echo -e "Git submodules not found. Running '$(GIT_SUBMODULE_UPDATE)'.\n"; \