diff --git a/java/build_jni.sh b/java/build_jni.sh
index 54f9e984..15274d3a 100755
--- a/java/build_jni.sh
+++ b/java/build_jni.sh
@@ -44,8 +44,6 @@ if [[ -z "${DEBUG_LEVEL_LOGS:-}" ]]; then
   FEATURES+=("log/release_max_level_info")
 fi
 
-android_abis=()
-
 # usage: build_desktop_for_arch target_triple host_triple output_dir
 build_desktop_for_arch () {
     local CC
@@ -82,6 +80,8 @@ build_desktop_for_arch () {
     copy_built_library "target/${1}/release" signal_jni_testing "$lib_dir" "signal_jni_testing_${suffix}"
 }
 
+android_abis=()
+
 while [ "${1:-}" != "" ]; do
     case "${1:-}" in
         desktop | server | server-all )
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ while [ "${1:-}" != "" ]; do
     shift
 done
 
+if (( ${#android_abis[@]} == 0 )); then
+    echo "Missing target (use 'desktop', 'android', or 'android-\$ARCH')" >&2
+    exit 2
+fi
+
 # Everything from here down is Android-only.
 export CARGO_PROFILE_RELEASE_OPT_LEVEL=s # optimize for size over speed