diff --git a/include/kernel.h b/include/kernel.h
index 2a38e284905..2d912497e4f 100644
--- a/include/kernel.h
+++ b/include/kernel.h
@@ -4159,6 +4159,7 @@ struct k_mem_pool {
  * @req K-MPOOL-001
  */
 #define K_MEM_POOL_DEFINE(name, minsz, maxsz, nmax, align)		\
+	BUILD_ASSERT(WB_UP(maxsz) >= _MPOOL_MINBLK);			\
 	char __aligned(WB_UP(align)) _mpool_buf_##name[WB_UP(maxsz) * nmax \
 				  + _MPOOL_BITS_SIZE(maxsz, minsz, nmax)]; \
 	struct sys_mem_pool_lvl _mpool_lvls_##name[Z_MPOOL_LVLS(maxsz, minsz)]; \
diff --git a/include/sys/mempool.h b/include/sys/mempool.h
index cf2b29d111d..a367f6e8c4b 100644
--- a/include/sys/mempool.h
+++ b/include/sys/mempool.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ struct sys_mem_pool_block {
  * @param section Destination binary section for pool data
  */
 #define SYS_MEM_POOL_DEFINE(name, ignored, minsz, maxsz, nmax, align, section) \
+	BUILD_ASSERT(WB_UP(maxsz) >= _MPOOL_MINBLK);			\
 	char __aligned(WB_UP(align)) Z_GENERIC_SECTION(section)		\
 		_mpool_buf_##name[WB_UP(maxsz) * nmax			\
 				  + _MPOOL_BITS_SIZE(maxsz, minsz, nmax)]; \
diff --git a/tests/kernel/queue/src/test_queue_contexts.c b/tests/kernel/queue/src/test_queue_contexts.c
index 22ff000d646..d32935773e7 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/queue/src/test_queue_contexts.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/queue/src/test_queue_contexts.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 /**TESTPOINT: init via K_QUEUE_DEFINE*/
 K_QUEUE_DEFINE(kqueue);
 
-K_MEM_POOL_DEFINE(mem_pool_fail, 4, 8, 1, 4);
+K_MEM_POOL_DEFINE(mem_pool_fail, 4, _MPOOL_MINBLK, 1, 4);
 K_MEM_POOL_DEFINE(mem_pool_pass, 4, 64, 4, 4);
 
 struct k_queue queue;