diff --git a/src/molecule.cpp b/src/molecule.cpp
index e25c10b3fb..58d6bc9cc4 100644
--- a/src/molecule.cpp
+++ b/src/molecule.cpp
@@ -725,6 +725,7 @@ void Molecule::types(char *line)
       readline(line);
 
       ValueTokenizer values(utils::trim(utils::trim_comment(line)));
+      if (values.count() != 2)
         error->one(FLERR,fmt::format("Invalid line in Types section of "
                                      "molecule file: {}",line));