diff --git a/app/ghcup-gen/Validate.hs b/app/ghcup-gen/Validate.hs
index cec2130..9c4b7d0 100644
--- a/app/ghcup-gen/Validate.hs
+++ b/app/ghcup-gen/Validate.hs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import           GHCup.Download
 import           GHCup.Types
 import           GHCup.Utils.Dirs
 import           GHCup.Utils.Logger
+import           GHCup.Utils.Version.QQ
 
 import           Control.Exception.Safe
 import           Control.Monad
@@ -89,6 +90,15 @@ validate dls = do
     when ((not $ any (== FreeBSD) pspecs) && arch == A_64) $ lift $ $(logWarn)
       [i|FreeBSD missing for #{t} #{v'} #{arch}|]
 
+    -- alpine needs to be set explicitly, because
+    -- we cannot assume that "Linux UnknownLinux" runs on Alpine
+    -- (although it could be static)
+    when (not $ any (== Linux Alpine) pspecs) $
+      case t of
+        GHCup -> (lift $ $(logError) [i|Linux Alpine missing for #{t} #{v'} #{arch}|]) >> addError
+        Cabal | v > [vver|2.4.1.0|] -> (lift $ $(logError) [i|Linux Alpine missing for #{t} #{v'} #{arch}|]) >> addError
+        _     -> lift $ $(logWarn) [i|Linux Alpine missing for #{t} #{v'} #{arch}|]
+
   checkUniqueTags tool = do
     let allTags = join $ M.elems $ availableToolVersions dls tool
     let nonUnique =