diff --git a/direct/Package.pp b/direct/Package.pp
index 6aee0aed85..ab625e235d 100644
--- a/direct/Package.pp
+++ b/direct/Package.pp
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
   #if $[eq $[DIRECT],]
     #error You seem to be attached to some trees, but not DIRECT!
   #endif
+  #if $[ne $[canonical $[DIRECT]], $[canonical $[TOPDIR]]]
+    #error You are not attached to the right DIRECT!
+  #endif
 #else
   #defer DIRECT_INSTALL $[unixfilename $[INSTALL_DIR]]
   #defer DIRECT_INSTALL_OTHER $[unixfilename $[INSTALL_DIR]]