diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/cookerdata.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/cookerdata.py
index d6206b7319..ba657c03b6 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/cookerdata.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/cookerdata.py
@@ -291,6 +291,8 @@ class CookerDataBuilder(object):
 
             multiconfig = (self.data.getVar("BBMULTICONFIG") or "").split()
             for config in multiconfig:
+                if config[0].isdigit():
+                    bb.fatal("Multiconfig name '%s' is invalid as multiconfigs cannot start with a digit" % config)
                 mcdata = self.parseConfigurationFiles(self.prefiles, self.postfiles, config)
                 bb.event.fire(bb.event.ConfigParsed(), mcdata)
                 self.mcdata[config] = mcdata