diff --git a/src/components.c b/src/components.c
index 9a1db276177..7d47683dd00 100644
--- a/src/components.c
+++ b/src/components.c
@@ -28,6 +28,11 @@
 #ifndef RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY
 #define RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY       (RT_THREAD_PRIORITY_MAX / 3)
 #endif /* RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY */
+#if (RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY >= RT_THREAD_PRIORITY_MAX)
+#error "RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY must be < RT_THREAD_PRIORITY_MAX"
+#elif (RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY < 0)
+#error "RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY must be non-negative"
+#endif /* RT_MAIN_THREAD_PRIORITY range check */
 #endif /* RT_USING_USER_MAIN */
 
 #ifdef RT_USING_COMPONENTS_INIT