diff --git a/rel/app/env.sh.eex b/rel/app/env.sh.eex
index a98997dd5..9e9b01a43 100644
--- a/rel/app/env.sh.eex
+++ b/rel/app/env.sh.eex
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@ if [ -f "$HOME/.livebookdesktop.sh" ]; then
   . "$HOME/.livebookdesktop.sh"
 fi
 
+hostname=`hostname`
+if [[ "$hostname" =~ " " ]]; then
+  echo "[error] system hostname ($hostname) cannot contain whitespaces"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
 export RELEASE_NODE=livebook_app
 export RELEASE_MODE=interactive
 export MIX_ARCHIVES="${RELEASE_ROOT}/vendor/archives"