diff --git a/include/prereq-build.mk b/include/prereq-build.mk
index b7ada69bb4..2e8d712cb8 100644
--- a/include/prereq-build.mk
+++ b/include/prereq-build.mk
@@ -187,3 +187,7 @@ endef
 $(eval $(call Require,getopt-extended, \
 	Please install an extended getopt version that supports --long \
 ))
+
+$(eval $(call RequireCommand,file, \
+	Please install file. \
+))