diff --git a/core/config.mk b/core/config.mk
index 3ed0ea7d9..2c89e39d0 100644
--- a/core/config.mk
+++ b/core/config.mk
@@ -825,6 +825,9 @@ ifdef PRODUCT_SHIPPING_API_LEVEL
       $(error When PRODUCT_SHIPPING_API_LEVEL >= 27, TARGET_USES_MKE2FS must be true)
     endif
   endif
+  ifneq ($(call numbers_less_than,$(PRODUCT_SHIPPING_API_LEVEL),$(BOARD_SYSTEMSDK_VERSIONS)),)
+    $(error BOARD_SYSTEMSDK_VERSIONS ($(BOARD_SYSTEMSDK_VERSIONS)) must all be greater than or equal to PRODUCT_SHIPPING_API_LEVEL ($(PRODUCT_SHIPPING_API_LEVEL)))
+  endif
 endif
 
 # The default key if not set as LOCAL_CERTIFICATE