diff --git a/gulpfile.js b/gulpfile.js
index 4a4707bf4bc..e61c9f03782 100644
--- a/gulpfile.js
+++ b/gulpfile.js
@@ -6,9 +6,16 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const tsconfigPath = path.join(__dirname, 'tools/gulp/tsconfig.json');
+const projectDir = __dirname;
+const tsconfigPath = path.join(projectDir, 'tools/gulp/tsconfig.json');
 const tsconfig = require(tsconfigPath);
 
+if (projectDir.includes(' ')) {
+  console.error('Error: Cannot run the Angular Material build tasks if the project is ' +
+    'located in a directory with spaces in between. Please rename your project directory.');
+  process.exit(1);
+}
+
 // Register TS compilation.
 require('ts-node').register({
   project: tsconfigPath