diff --git a/cmake/checks/cpu_popcnt.cpp b/cmake/checks/cpu_popcnt.cpp
index 16e5575108..44c7deda05 100644
--- a/cmake/checks/cpu_popcnt.cpp
+++ b/cmake/checks/cpu_popcnt.cpp
@@ -4,12 +4,14 @@
 #    define CV_POPCNT_U64 _mm_popcnt_u64
 #  endif
 #  define CV_POPCNT_U32 _mm_popcnt_u32
-#else
+#elif defined(__POPCNT__)
 #  include <popcntintrin.h>
 #  if defined(__x86_64__)
 #    define CV_POPCNT_U64 __builtin_popcountll
 #  endif
 #  define CV_POPCNT_U32 __builtin_popcount
+#else
+#  error "__POPCNT__ is not defined by compiler"
 #endif
 
 int main()