diff --git a/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py b/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
index c2ab39803..706466545 100644
--- a/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
+++ b/recipe_modules/bot_update/api.py
@@ -143,10 +143,15 @@ class BotUpdateApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
     elif patch_oauth2:
       # TODO(martiniss): remove this hack :(. crbug.com/624212
       if use_site_config_creds:
-        email_file = self.m.path['build'].join(
-            'site_config', '.rietveld_client_email')
-        key_file = self.m.path['build'].join(
-            'site_config', '.rietveld_secret_key')
+        try:
+          build_path = self.m.path['build']
+        except KeyError:  # pragma: no cover | TODO(nodir): cover
+          raise self.m.step.StepFailure(
+              'build path is not defined. This is normal for LUCI builds. '
+              'In LUCI, use_site_config_creds parameter of '
+              'bot_update.ensure_checkout is not supported')
+        email_file = build_path.join('site_config', '.rietveld_client_email')
+        key_file = build_path.join('site_config', '.rietveld_secret_key')
       else: #pragma: no cover
         #TODO(martiniss): make this use path.join, so it works on windows
         email_file = '/creds/rietveld/client_email'
diff --git a/recipe_modules/rietveld/api.py b/recipe_modules/rietveld/api.py
index e563b18d6..9d250fe1e 100644
--- a/recipe_modules/rietveld/api.py
+++ b/recipe_modules/rietveld/api.py
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ class RietveldApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
     issue_number = self.m.properties['issue']
 
     if authentication == 'oauth2':
+      try:
+        build_path = self.m.path['build']
+      except KeyError:  # pragma: no cover | TODO(nodir): cover
+        raise self.m.step.StepFailure(
+          'build path is not defined. This is typical for LUCI builds. '
+          'LUCI does not support rietveld.apply_issue; use bot_update instead')
       step_result = self.m.python(
         'apply_issue',
         self.package_repo_resource('apply_issue.py'), [
@@ -72,13 +78,10 @@ class RietveldApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
           '-i', issue_number,
           '-p', self.m.properties['patchset'],
           '-s', rietveld_url,
-          '-E', self.m.path['build'].join('site_config',
-                                          '.rietveld_client_email'),
-          '-k', self.m.path['build'].join('site_config',
-                                          '.rietveld_secret_key')
-          ],
-        )
-
+          '-E', build_path.join('site_config', '.rietveld_client_email'),
+          '-k', build_path.join('site_config', '.rietveld_secret_key'),
+        ],
+      )
     else:
       step_result = self.m.python(
         'apply_issue',
diff --git a/recipe_modules/tryserver/api.py b/recipe_modules/tryserver/api.py
index 1edb1634d..f50f2dfe7 100644
--- a/recipe_modules/tryserver/api.py
+++ b/recipe_modules/tryserver/api.py
@@ -104,7 +104,15 @@ class TryserverApi(recipe_api.RecipeApi):
     patch_ref = self.m.properties['patch_ref']
 
     patch_dir = self.m.path.mkdtemp('patch')
-    git_setup_py = self.m.path['build'].join('scripts', 'slave', 'git_setup.py')
+    try:
+      build_path = self.m.path['build']
+    except KeyError:  # pragma: no cover | TODO(nodir): cover
+      raise self.m.step.StepFailure(
+          'path["build"] is not defined. '
+          'Possibly this is a LUCI build. '
+          'tryserver.apply_from_git is not supported in LUCI builds.')
+
+    git_setup_py = build_path.join('scripts', 'slave', 'git_setup.py')
     git_setup_args = ['--path', patch_dir, '--url', patch_repo_url]
     patch_path = patch_dir.join('patch.diff')