diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 16081a06969..3d250e7249d 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1603,6 +1603,8 @@ class PyBuildExt(build_ext):
             # if --enable-loadable-sqlite-extensions configure option is used.
             if '--enable-loadable-sqlite-extensions' not in sysconfig.get_config_var("CONFIG_ARGS"):
                 sqlite_defines.append(("SQLITE_OMIT_LOAD_EXTENSION", "1"))
+            elif MACOS and sqlite_incdir == os.path.join(MACOS_SDK_ROOT, "usr/include"):
+                raise DistutilsError("System version of SQLite does not support loadable extensions")
 
             if MACOS:
                 # In every directory on the search path search for a dynamic