[makefile] How to abort makefile if variable not set?

How could I abort a make/makefile execution based on a makefile's variable not being set/valued?

I came up with this, but works only if caller doesn't explicitly run a target (i.e. runs make only).

ifeq ($(MY_FLAG),)
abort:   ## This MUST be the first target :( ugly
    @echo Variable MY_FLAG not set && false
endif

all:
    @echo MY_FLAG=$(MY_FLAG)

I think something like this would be a good idea, but didn't find anything in make's manual:

ifndef MY_FLAG
.ABORT
endif

You can use an IF to test:

check:
        @[ "${var}" ] || ( echo ">> var is not set"; exit 1 )

Result:

$ make check
>> var is not set
Makefile:2: recipe for target 'check' failed
make: *** [check] Error 1

Use the shell error handling for unset variables (note the double $):

$ cat Makefile
foo:
        echo "something is set to $${something:?}"

$ make foo
echo "something is set to ${something:?}"
/bin/sh: something: parameter null or not set
make: *** [foo] Error 127


$ make foo something=x
echo "something is set to ${something:?}"
something is set to x

If you need a custom error message, add it after the ?:

$ cat Makefile
hello:
        echo "hello $${name:?please tell me who you are via \$$name}"

$ make hello
echo "hello ${name:?please tell me who you are via \$name}"
/bin/sh: name: please tell me who you are via $name
make: *** [hello] Error 127

$ make hello name=jesus
echo "hello ${name:?please tell me who you are via \$name}"
hello jesus

For simplicity and brevity:

$ cat Makefile
check-%:
        @: $(if $(value $*),,$(error $* is undefined))

bar:| check-foo
        echo "foo is $$foo"

With outputs:

$ make bar
Makefile:2: *** foo is undefined. Stop.
$ make bar foo="something"
echo "foo is $$foo"
foo is something

Use the shell function test:

foo:
    test $(something)

Usage:

$ make foo
test 
Makefile:2: recipe for target 'foo' failed
make: *** [foo] Error 1
$ make foo something=x
test x