diff --git a/packages/venia-ui/lib/targets/venia-ui-intercept.js b/packages/venia-ui/lib/targets/venia-ui-intercept.js
index 26f9df82e6..299a42f3a5 100644
--- a/packages/venia-ui/lib/targets/venia-ui-intercept.js
+++ b/packages/venia-ui/lib/targets/venia-ui-intercept.js
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ const SummaryPaymentTypes = require('./SummaryPaymentTypes');
 const RootShimmerTypes = require('./RootShimmerTypes');
 
 module.exports = veniaTargets => {
+    if (!veniaTargets) {
+        throw new Error('veniaTargets not provided — check local-intercept.js');
+    }
     const venia = Targetables.using(veniaTargets);
 
     venia.setSpecialFeatures(