diff --git a/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp b/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
index 40be41eb06..bde8b14d7c 100644
--- a/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
+++ b/src/MOLECULE/atom_vec_template.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ void AtomVecTemplate::process_args(int narg, char **arg)
   onemols = &atom->molecules[imol];
   nset = atom->molecules[imol]->nset;
 
+  // error check on molecule template fields
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < nset; i++) {
+    if (onemols[i]->typeflag == 0)
+      error->all(FLERR,"Atom style template molecule must have atom types");
+
   // set bonds_allow,angles_allow,etc based on the molecules in template set
   // similar to how atom_style bond,angle,full set it