diff --git a/bin/polly.py b/bin/polly.py
index 0002103f..5688e926 100755
--- a/bin/polly.py
+++ b/bin/polly.py
@@ -307,6 +307,15 @@ def PositiveInt(string):
 else:
   cdir = os.getcwd()
 
+home = '.'
+if args.home:
+  home = args.home
+
+# Check the existence of CMakeLists.txt and exit before creating any directories
+cmakelists_path = '{}/CMakeLists.txt'.format(home)
+if not os.path.exists(cmakelists_path):
+  sys.exit('Specified path for CMakeList does not exist: {}'.format(cmakelists_path))
+
 build_dir = os.path.join(cdir, '_builds', build_tag)
 print("Build dir: {}".format(build_dir))
 build_dir_option = "-B{}".format(build_dir)
@@ -373,10 +382,6 @@ def PositiveInt(string):
     detail.call.call(['which', cmake_bin], logging)
 detail.call.call([cmake_bin, '--version'], logging)
 
-home = '.'
-if args.home:
-  home = args.home
-
 generate_command = [
     cmake_bin,
     '-H{}'.format(home),