diff --git a/tasks/arch_linux/aur.yml b/tasks/arch_linux/aur.yml
index e6aafcc..29eefc8 100644
--- a/tasks/arch_linux/aur.yml
+++ b/tasks/arch_linux/aur.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-- name: set aur build directory
-  set_fact:
-    aur_build_dir: '{{ aur_build_dir | /usr/local/src }}'
+# require
+- set_fact:
+  fail:
+    msg: 'Requires aur_build_dir variable to be set'
+  when: not aur_build_dir
 
 - name: set build directory
   set_fact: