diff --git a/dbzero/setup.py b/dbzero/setup.py
index 01b3d79f..dcf4f7b4 100644
--- a/dbzero/setup.py
+++ b/dbzero/setup.py
@@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
 from setuptools import setup
+import sys
+
+# Check for big-endian systems
+if sys.byteorder == 'big':
+    raise RuntimeError("dbzero does not support big-endian systems")
 
 setup(
     name='dbzero',