diff --git a/meta/classes/license.bbclass b/meta/classes/license.bbclass
index cfb816d..cd18e19 100644
--- a/meta/classes/license.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/license.bbclass
@@ -237,7 +237,10 @@ def incompatible_license(d, dont_want_licenses, package=None):
     def choose_lic_set(a, b):
         return a if all(license_ok(lic) for lic in a) else b
 
-    licenses=oe.license.flattened_licenses(license, choose_lic_set)
+    try:
+        licenses = oe.license.flattened_licenses(license, choose_lic_set)
+    except oe.license.LicenseError as exc:
+        bb.fatal('%s: %s' % (d.getVar('P', True), exc))
     return any(not license_ok(l) for l in licenses)
 
 def check_license_flags(d):