diff --git a/command/build_test.go b/command/build_test.go
index d912e1319..e354fe02a 100644
--- a/command/build_test.go
+++ b/command/build_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"regexp"
 	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -1168,6 +1169,31 @@ func TestBuildCmd(t *testing.T) {
 					return fmt.Errorf("error: expected build to succeed without errors, got %d",
 						nbErrs)
 				}
+				return nil
+			},
+		},
+		{
+			name: "hcl - build block without source",
+			args: []string{
+				testFixture("hcl", "build_no_source.pkr.hcl"),
+			},
+			expectedCode: 1,
+			outputCheck: func(_, err string) error {
+				if !strings.Contains(err, "Error: missing source reference") {
+					return fmt.Errorf("expected 'Error: missing source reference' in output, did not find it")
+				}
+
+				nbErrs := strings.Count(err, "Error: ")
+				if nbErrs != 1 {
+					return fmt.Errorf(
+						"error: too many errors in stderr for build, expected 1, got %d",
+						nbErrs)
+				}
+
+				logRegex := regexp.MustCompile("on.*build_no_source.pkr.hcl line 1")
+				if !logRegex.MatchString(err) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("error: missing context for error message")
+				}
 
 				return nil
 			},
diff --git a/command/test-fixtures/hcl/build_no_source.pkr.hcl b/command/test-fixtures/hcl/build_no_source.pkr.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..af4fbda87
--- /dev/null
+++ b/command/test-fixtures/hcl/build_no_source.pkr.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+build{}
diff --git a/command/test-fixtures/version_req/base_success/version.pkr.hcl b/command/test-fixtures/version_req/base_success/version.pkr.hcl
index d3ebe59b2..288698642 100644
--- a/command/test-fixtures/version_req/base_success/version.pkr.hcl
+++ b/command/test-fixtures/version_req/base_success/version.pkr.hcl
@@ -2,4 +2,10 @@ packer {
   required_version = ">= 1.0.0"
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/common_test.go b/hcl2template/common_test.go
index 619a3e19a..567959e21 100644
--- a/hcl2template/common_test.go
+++ b/hcl2template/common_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/builder/null"
 	dnull "github.com/hashicorp/packer/datasource/null"
 	. "github.com/hashicorp/packer/hcl2template/internal"
+	hcl2template "github.com/hashicorp/packer/hcl2template/internal"
 	packerregistry "github.com/hashicorp/packer/internal/registry"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/packer"
 	"github.com/zclconf/go-cty/cty"
@@ -372,6 +373,7 @@ var cmpOpts = []cmp.Option{
 	cmpopts.IgnoreFields(VariableAssignment{},
 		"Expr", // its an interface
 	),
+	cmpopts.IgnoreTypes(hcl2template.MockBuilder{}),
 	cmpopts.IgnoreTypes(HCL2Ref{}),
 	cmpopts.IgnoreTypes([]*LocalBlock{}),
 	cmpopts.IgnoreTypes([]hcl.Range{}),
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/build/post-processor_nonexistent.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/build/post-processor_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
index 3c1f20efe..4ea811f20 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/build/post-processor_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/build/post-processor_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+source "null" "test" {}
 
 build {
+    sources = [ "null.test" ]
+
     post-processor "nonexistent" {
         foo = "bar"
     }
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/build/provisioner_nonexistent.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/build/provisioner_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
index d1f5b7c4e..a8d429057 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/build/provisioner_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/build/provisioner_nonexistent.pkr.hcl
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
+source "null" "test" {}
 
 build {
+    sources = [ "null.test" ]
+
     provisioner "nonexistent" {
         foo = "bar"
     }
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/basic.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/basic.pkr.hcl
index 4d7b9dcf9..70a51330a 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/basic.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/basic.pkr.hcl
@@ -86,4 +86,10 @@ data "amazon-ami" "test" {
   }
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/recursive.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/recursive.pkr.hcl
index 897395fbf..84acac92e 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/recursive.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/datasources/recursive.pkr.hcl
@@ -18,4 +18,10 @@ data "null" "bang" {
   input = "${data.null.baz.output}-with-marshmallows"
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/sources/basic.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/sources/basic.pkr.hcl
index c10d814dd..d7efb812e 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/sources/basic.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/sources/basic.pkr.hcl
@@ -87,4 +87,10 @@ source "virtualbox-iso" "ubuntu-1204" {
     }
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+    communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+    sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/basic.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/basic.pkr.hcl
index c0ef953f4..3c3c8132b 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/basic.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/basic.pkr.hcl
@@ -42,4 +42,10 @@ local "supersecret" {
   expression = "secretvar"
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/complicated/d.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/complicated/d.pkr.hcl
index d53f092e5..e005230b4 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/complicated/d.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/complicated/d.pkr.hcl
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/empty.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/empty.pkr.hcl
index d53f092e5..e005230b4 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/empty.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/empty.pkr.hcl
@@ -1 +1,7 @@
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/foo-string.variable.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/foo-string.variable.pkr.hcl
index adc6c3d04..f15ad1360 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/foo-string.variable.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/foo-string.variable.pkr.hcl
@@ -3,4 +3,10 @@ variable "foo" {
     default = "bar"
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+    communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+    sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/validation/valid.pkr.hcl b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/validation/valid.pkr.hcl
index 67c27dd26..dbab09d87 100644
--- a/hcl2template/testdata/variables/validation/valid.pkr.hcl
+++ b/hcl2template/testdata/variables/validation/valid.pkr.hcl
@@ -8,4 +8,10 @@ variable "image_id" {
   }
 }
 
-build {}
+source "null" "test" {
+  communicator = "none"
+}
+
+build {
+  sources = ["null.test"]
+}
diff --git a/hcl2template/types.build.go b/hcl2template/types.build.go
index dac9b5db4..3bb54b20c 100644
--- a/hcl2template/types.build.go
+++ b/hcl2template/types.build.go
@@ -110,7 +110,16 @@ func (p *Parser) decodeBuildConfig(block *hcl.Block, cfg *PackerConfig) (*BuildB
 		"name": cty.StringVal(b.Name),
 	})
 
+	// We rely on `hadSource` to determine which error to proc.
+	//
+	// If a source block is referenced in the build block, but isn't valid, we
+	// cannot rely on the `build.Sources' since it's only populated when a valid
+	// source is processed.
+	hadSource := false
+
 	for _, buildFrom := range b.FromSources {
+		hadSource = true
+
 		ref := sourceRefFromString(buildFrom)
 
 		if ref == NoSource ||
@@ -156,6 +165,7 @@ func (p *Parser) decodeBuildConfig(block *hcl.Block, cfg *PackerConfig) (*BuildB
 			}
 			build.HCPPackerRegistry = hcpPackerRegistry
 		case sourceLabel:
+			hadSource = true
 			ref, moreDiags := p.decodeBuildSource(block)
 			diags = append(diags, moreDiags...)
 			if moreDiags.HasErrors() {
@@ -216,5 +226,14 @@ func (p *Parser) decodeBuildConfig(block *hcl.Block, cfg *PackerConfig) (*BuildB
 		}
 	}
 
+	if !hadSource {
+		diags = append(diags, &hcl.Diagnostic{
+			Summary:  "missing source reference",
+			Detail:   "a build block must reference at least one source to be built",
+			Severity: hcl.DiagError,
+			Subject:  block.DefRange.Ptr(),
+		})
+	}
+
 	return build, diags
 }
diff --git a/hcl2template/types.build_test.go b/hcl2template/types.build_test.go
index b5123a039..17cd80861 100644
--- a/hcl2template/types.build_test.go
+++ b/hcl2template/types.build_test.go
@@ -73,6 +73,15 @@ func TestParse_build(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Basedir:                 filepath.Join("testdata", "build"),
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
+				},
 				Builds: Builds{
 					&BuildBlock{
 						ProvisionerBlocks: []*ProvisionerBlock{
@@ -80,6 +89,14 @@ func TestParse_build(t *testing.T) {
 								PType: "nonexistent",
 							},
 						},
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -134,6 +151,15 @@ func TestParse_build(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Basedir:                 filepath.Join("testdata", "build"),
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
+				},
 				Builds: Builds{
 					&BuildBlock{
 						PostProcessorsLists: [][]*PostProcessorBlock{
@@ -143,6 +169,14 @@ func TestParse_build(t *testing.T) {
 								},
 							},
 						},
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
 					},
 				},
 			},
diff --git a/hcl2template/types.datasource_test.go b/hcl2template/types.datasource_test.go
index 078a8a2ba..26c8c3c45 100644
--- a/hcl2template/types.datasource_test.go
+++ b/hcl2template/types.datasource_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	packersdk "github.com/hashicorp/packer-plugin-sdk/packer"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/builder/null"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/packer"
 )
 
 func TestParse_datasource(t *testing.T) {
@@ -17,7 +19,25 @@ func TestParse_datasource(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "datasources"),
 				Datasources: Datasources{
@@ -31,7 +51,15 @@ func TestParse_datasource(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 		{"recursive datasources",
@@ -40,7 +68,25 @@ func TestParse_datasource(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "datasources"),
 				Datasources: Datasources{
@@ -82,7 +128,15 @@ func TestParse_datasource(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 		{"untyped datasource",
diff --git a/hcl2template/types.source_test.go b/hcl2template/types.source_test.go
index cc6d3fbb5..e19d921da 100644
--- a/hcl2template/types.source_test.go
+++ b/hcl2template/types.source_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	packersdk "github.com/hashicorp/packer-plugin-sdk/packer"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/builder/null"
+	"github.com/hashicorp/packer/packer"
 )
 
 func TestParse_source(t *testing.T) {
@@ -17,7 +19,16 @@ func TestParse_source(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "sources"),
 				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
@@ -28,10 +39,25 @@ func TestParse_source(t *testing.T) {
 						Type: "virtualbox-iso",
 						Name: "ubuntu-1204",
 					},
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 		{"untyped source",
@@ -61,15 +87,13 @@ func TestParse_source(t *testing.T) {
 			parseTestArgs{"testdata/sources/nonexistent.pkr.hcl", nil, nil},
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
-				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
-				},
-				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "sources"),
+				Builds:                  nil,
+				Basedir:                 filepath.Join("testdata", "sources"),
 				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
 					{Type: "nonexistent", Name: "ubuntu-1204"}: {Type: "nonexistent", Name: "ubuntu-1204"},
 				},
 			},
-			false, false,
+			true, true,
 			[]packersdk.Build{},
 			false,
 		},
diff --git a/hcl2template/types.variables_test.go b/hcl2template/types.variables_test.go
index cbd4d63d4..1abe331a8 100644
--- a/hcl2template/types.variables_test.go
+++ b/hcl2template/types.variables_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,25 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "variables"),
 				InputVariables: Variables{
@@ -105,7 +123,15 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 		{"duplicate variable",
@@ -279,7 +305,25 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: "testdata/variables/complicated",
 				InputVariables: Variables{
@@ -329,7 +373,15 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 		{"recursive locals",
@@ -352,7 +404,25 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Basedir:                 filepath.Join("testdata", "variables"),
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				InputVariables: Variables{
 					"foo": &Variable{
@@ -366,7 +436,15 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 
@@ -376,12 +454,38 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 			&PackerConfig{
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				Basedir: filepath.Join("testdata", "variables"),
 			},
 			true, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},
 
@@ -481,7 +585,25 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				CorePackerVersionString: lockedVersion,
 				Basedir:                 filepath.Join("testdata", "variables", "validation"),
 				Builds: Builds{
-					&BuildBlock{},
+					&BuildBlock{
+						Sources: []SourceUseBlock{
+							{
+								SourceRef: SourceRef{
+									Type: "null",
+									Name: "test",
+								},
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+				Sources: map[SourceRef]SourceBlock{
+					{
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					}: {
+						Type: "null",
+						Name: "test",
+					},
 				},
 				InputVariables: Variables{
 					"image_id": &Variable{
@@ -499,7 +621,15 @@ func TestParse_variables(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 			false, false,
-			[]packersdk.Build{},
+			[]packersdk.Build{
+				&packer.CoreBuild{
+					Type:           "null.test",
+					Builder:        &null.Builder{},
+					Provisioners:   []packer.CoreBuildProvisioner{},
+					PostProcessors: [][]packer.CoreBuildPostProcessor{},
+					Prepared:       true,
+				},
+			},
 			false,
 		},