diff --git a/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js b/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
index 951a8cf1d1..7089fa3874 100644
--- a/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
+++ b/lib/core/nav/HeaderNav.js
@@ -220,9 +220,29 @@ class HeaderNav extends React.Component {
     if (!languages) {
       headerLinks.push({ languages: true });
     }
-    // add search bar to end if location not specified
     let search = false;
     headerLinks.forEach(link => {
+      if (link.doc && !fs.existsSync(CWD + "/../docs/")) {
+        throw new Error(
+          "You have 'doc' in your headerLinks, but no 'docs' folder exists one level up from " +
+          "'website' folder. Are you running the examples? If so, make sure you rename " +
+          "'docs-examples-from-docusaurus' to 'docs'."
+        );
+      }
+      if (link.blog && !fs.existsSync(CWD + "/blog/")) {
+        throw new Error(
+          "You have 'blog' in your headerLinks, but no 'blog' folder exists in your " +
+          "website folder. Are you running the examples? If so, make sure you rename " +
+          "'blog-examples-from-docusaurus' to 'blog'."
+        );
+      }
+      if (link.page && !fs.existsSync(CWD + "/pages/")) {
+        throw new Error(
+          "You have 'page' in your headerLinks, but no 'pages' folder exists in your " +
+          "'website' folder."
+        );
+      }
+      // We will add search bar to end if location not specified
       if (link.search) {
         search = true;
       }