diff --git a/samples/docvwmdi/docview.cpp b/samples/docvwmdi/docview.cpp
index dad7ffd133..9889a2f146 100644
--- a/samples/docvwmdi/docview.cpp
+++ b/samples/docvwmdi/docview.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
 #error You must set wxUSE_DOC_VIEW_ARCHITECTURE to 1 in setup.h!
 #endif
 
+#if !wxUSE_MDI_ARCHITECTURE
+#error You must set wxUSE_MDI_ARCHITECTURE to 1 in setup.h!
+#endif
+
 #include "docview.h"
 #include "doc.h"
 #include "view.h"