diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 676fc4b66c..6a18c33896 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -65,10 +65,10 @@ if(CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR STREQUAL PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR)
 
   message(STATUS "CMake ${CMAKE_VERSION}")
 
-  if(DEFINED SKBUILD AND DEFINED $ENV{PYBIND11_GLOBAL_PREFIX})
+  if(DEFINED SKBUILD AND DEFINED ENV{PYBIND11_GLOBAL_SDIST})
     message(
       FATAL_ERROR
-        "PYBIND11_GLOBAL_PREFIX is not supported, use nox -s build_global or a pybind11-global SDist instead."
+        "PYBIND11_GLOBAL_SDIST is not supported, use nox -s build_global or a pybind11-global SDist instead."
     )
   endif()