diff --git a/include/gdbstub/helpers.h b/include/gdbstub/helpers.h
index 6b97610f48..6277a858a1 100644
--- a/include/gdbstub/helpers.h
+++ b/include/gdbstub/helpers.h
@@ -12,7 +12,10 @@
 #ifndef _GDBSTUB_HELPERS_H_
 #define _GDBSTUB_HELPERS_H_
 
-#ifdef COMPILING_PER_TARGET
+#ifndef COMPILING_PER_TARGET
+#error "gdbstub helpers should only be included by target specific code"
+#endif
+
 #include "cpu.h"
 
 /*
@@ -96,8 +99,4 @@ static inline uint8_t *gdb_get_reg_ptr(GByteArray *buf, int len)
 #define ldtul_p(addr) ldl_p(addr)
 #endif
 
-#else
-#error "gdbstub helpers should only be included by target specific code"
-#endif
-
 #endif /* _GDBSTUB_HELPERS_H_ */