diff --git a/android/module.go b/android/module.go
index 2062a4d..e4fb509 100644
--- a/android/module.go
+++ b/android/module.go
@@ -565,6 +565,12 @@
 type TaggedDistFiles map[string]Paths
 
 func MakeDefaultDistFiles(paths ...Path) TaggedDistFiles {
+	for _, path := range paths {
+		if path == nil {
+			panic("The path to a dist file cannot be nil.")
+		}
+	}
+
 	// The default OutputFile tag is the empty "" string.
 	return TaggedDistFiles{"": paths}
 }