1 files changed, 15 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
index d975f485c..ca228e338 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,21 @@ module Homebrew extend self
       end
     end unless ARGV.force?
 
+    ARGV.formulae.each do |f|
+      # Building head-only without --HEAD is an error
+      if not ARGV.build_head? and f.stable.nil?
+        raise CannotInstallFormulaError, <<-EOS.undent
+        #{f} is a head-only formula
+        Install with `brew install --HEAD #{f.name}`
+        EOS
+      end
+
+      # Building stable-only with --HEAD is an error
+      if ARGV.build_head? and f.head.nil?
+        raise CannotInstallFormulaError, "No head is defined for #{f.name}"
+      end
+    end
+
     perform_preinstall_checks
 
     begin