diff --git a/nsis/plugin.jelly b/nsis/plugin.jelly
index 92fcb68c..979397a9 100644
--- a/nsis/plugin.jelly
+++ b/nsis/plugin.jelly
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
   xmlns:ant="jelly:ant"
   xmlns:dist="dist"
   xmlns:license="license"
+  xmlns:maven="jelly:maven"
   xmlns:util="jelly:util">
 
 
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@
   <goal name="nsis:generate-project"
     description="Generate NSIS project.nsh file">
     
+    <maven:param-check value="${maven.dist.bin.assembly.dir}" fail="true" 
+    	message="'maven.dist.bin.assembly.dir' must be specified. It is the directory containing files to be placed in the installer"/>
+
     <mkdir dir="${maven.build.dir}"/>
 
     <j:set var="generatedFileName" value="${maven.build.dir}/project.nsh"/>