diff --git a/prof.c b/prof.c
index 3f0314d..a631f4b 100644
--- a/prof.c
+++ b/prof.c
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@
 #	pragma message("compiling as c++ is ill-advised")
 #endif
 
+#if defined(__STDC_NO_ATOMICS__)
+#	error This code needs C11 atomics support (if compiling on windows with MSVC, pass /experimental:c11atomics to cl.exe)
+#endif
+
 /* platform identification */
 #if defined(_WIN32)
 #	define UTRACY_WINDOWS