diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 89343ad653d..8f19455b6b6 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1134,17 +1134,16 @@ if(WITH_INSTALL_PORTABLE)
   set(CMAKE_SKIP_BUILD_RPATH TRUE)
 endif()
 
-if(WITH_GHOST_SDL OR WITH_HEADLESS)
-  message(STATUS "Disabling Ghost Wayland, X11, Input IME, and OpenXR")
-  set(WITH_GHOST_WAYLAND OFF)
-  set(WITH_GHOST_X11     OFF)
-  set(WITH_X11_XINPUT    OFF)
-  set(WITH_X11_XF86VMODE OFF)
-  set(WITH_X11_XFIXES    OFF)
-  set(WITH_GHOST_XDND    OFF)
-  set(WITH_INPUT_IME     OFF)
-  set(WITH_XR_OPENXR     OFF)
-endif()
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_HEADLESS WITH_GHOST_WAYLAND OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_HEADLESS WITH_GHOST_SDL OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_HEADLESS WITH_GHOST_X11 OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_HEADLESS WITH_INPUT_IME OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_HEADLESS WITH_XR_OPENXR OFF)
+
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_GHOST_SDL WITH_GHOST_WAYLAND OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_GHOST_SDL WITH_GHOST_X11 OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_GHOST_SDL WITH_INPUT_IME OFF)
+set_and_warn_incompatible(WITH_GHOST_SDL WITH_XR_OPENXR OFF)
 
 if(WITH_BUILDINFO)
   find_package(Git)
diff --git a/build_files/cmake/macros.cmake b/build_files/cmake/macros.cmake
index 43e5cf946d1..fdd8a0ed6d8 100644
--- a/build_files/cmake/macros.cmake
+++ b/build_files/cmake/macros.cmake
@@ -1455,6 +1455,19 @@ macro(set_and_warn_dependency
   endif()
 endmacro()
 
+macro(set_and_warn_incompatible
+  _dependency _setting _val)
+  # when $_dependency is enabled, forces $_setting = $_val
+  if(${${_dependency}} AND ${${_setting}})
+    if(WITH_STRICT_BUILD_OPTIONS)
+      message(SEND_ERROR "${_dependency} enabled but incompatible with ${_setting}")
+    else()
+      message(STATUS "${_dependency} is enabled but incompatible, setting ${_setting}=${_val}")
+    endif()
+    set(${_setting} ${_val})
+  endif()
+endmacro()
+
 macro(set_and_warn_library_found
   _library_name _library_found _setting)
   if(((NOT ${_library_found}) OR (NOT ${${_library_found}})) AND ${${_setting}})