diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 564439397..f0b14ca23 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -805,12 +805,15 @@ help:assume <type_traits> works
 	@_custom_test
 	def _check_type_traits(self,context):
 		f = '''
+#define DXX_INHERIT_CONSTRUCTORS	/* bypass sanity check */
 #include "compiler-type_traits.h"
 typedef tt::conditional<true,int,long>::type a;
 typedef tt::conditional<false,int,long>::type b;
 '''
 		if self.check_cxx11_type_traits(context, f) or self.check_boost_type_traits(context, f):
 			context.sconf.Define('DXX_HAVE_TYPE_TRAITS')
+			return
+		raise SCons.Errors.StopError("C++ compiler does not support <type_traits> or Boost.TypeTraits.")
 	@_implicit_test
 	def check_boost_foreach(self,context,**kwargs):
 		"""
diff --git a/common/include/compiler-type_traits.h b/common/include/compiler-type_traits.h
index 33e951b61..d4e57c9fc 100644
--- a/common/include/compiler-type_traits.h
+++ b/common/include/compiler-type_traits.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
  */
 #pragma once
 
+#ifdef DXX_INHERIT_CONSTRUCTORS
 #if defined(DXX_HAVE_CXX11_TYPE_TRAITS)
 #include <type_traits>
 namespace tt = std;
@@ -15,3 +16,6 @@ namespace tt = boost;
 #else
 #error "No <type_traits> implementation found."
 #endif
+#else
+#error "\"compiler-type_traits.h\" included before \"dxxsconf.h\""
+#endif