diff --git a/lib/rscons/builder.rb b/lib/rscons/builder.rb
index 241189f..4868552 100644
--- a/lib/rscons/builder.rb
+++ b/lib/rscons/builder.rb
@@ -54,6 +54,20 @@ module Rscons
       false
     end
 
+    # Run the builder to produce a build target.
+    #
+    # @param target [String] Target file name.
+    # @param sources [Array<String>] Source file name(s).
+    # @param cache [Cache] The Cache object.
+    # @param env [Environment] The Environment executing the builder.
+    # @param vars [Hash,VarSet] Extra construction variables.
+    #
+    # @return [String,false]
+    #   Name of the target file on success or false on failure.
+    def run(target, sources, cache, env, vars)
+      raise "This method must be overridden in a subclass"
+    end
+
     # Check if the cache is up to date for the target and if not execute the
     # build command.
     #
diff --git a/spec/rscons/builder_spec.rb b/spec/rscons/builder_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7515956
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/rscons/builder_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+module Rscons
+  describe Builder do
+    describe "#run" do
+      it "raises an error if called directly and not through a subclass" do
+        expect{subject.run(:target, :sources, :cache, :env, :vars)}.to raise_error /This method must be overridden in a subclass/
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end