diff --git a/applications/solvers/combustion/dieselEngineFoam/createFields.H b/applications/solvers/combustion/dieselEngineFoam/createFields.H
index 9d9229cc3c..6987608006 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/combustion/dieselEngineFoam/createFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/combustion/dieselEngineFoam/createFields.H
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@ PtrList<volScalarField>& Y = composition.Y();
 
 word inertSpecie(thermo.lookup("inertSpecie"));
 
+if (!composition.contains(inertSpecie))
+{
+    FatalErrorIn(args.executable())
+        << "Specified inert specie '" << inertSpecie << "' not found in "
+        << "species list. Available species:" << composition.species()
+        << exit(FatalError);
+}
+
 volScalarField rho
 (
     IOobject
diff --git a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/coalChemistryFoam/createFields.H b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/coalChemistryFoam/createFields.H
index bba39fe862..14d6f6f229 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/coalChemistryFoam/createFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/coalChemistryFoam/createFields.H
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 
     word inertSpecie(thermo.lookup("inertSpecie"));
 
+    if (!composition.contains(inertSpecie))
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn(args.executable())
+            << "Specified inert specie '" << inertSpecie << "' not found in "
+            << "species list. Available species:" << composition.species()
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+
     volScalarField& p = thermo.p();
     volScalarField& h = thermo.h();
     const volScalarField& T = thermo.T();
diff --git a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/porousExplicitSourceReactingParcelFoam/createFields.H b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/porousExplicitSourceReactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
index a3054db0f5..3d6c5500ea 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/porousExplicitSourceReactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/porousExplicitSourceReactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 
     word inertSpecie(thermo.lookup("inertSpecie"));
 
+    if (!composition.contains(inertSpecie))
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn(args.executable())
+            << "Specified inert specie '" << inertSpecie << "' not found in "
+            << "species list. Available species:" << composition.species()
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+
     volScalarField& p = thermo.p();
     volScalarField& h = thermo.h();
     const volScalarField& T = thermo.T();
diff --git a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/reactingParcelFoam/createFields.H b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/reactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
index ec820fa5e3..359599a61f 100644
--- a/applications/solvers/lagrangian/reactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
+++ b/applications/solvers/lagrangian/reactingParcelFoam/createFields.H
@@ -13,6 +13,14 @@
 
     word inertSpecie(thermo.lookup("inertSpecie"));
 
+    if (!composition.contains(inertSpecie))
+    {
+        FatalErrorIn(args.executable())
+            << "Specified inert specie '" << inertSpecie << "' not found in "
+            << "species list. Available species:" << composition.species()
+            << exit(FatalError);
+    }
+
     volScalarField& p = thermo.p();
     volScalarField& h = thermo.h();
     const volScalarField& T = thermo.T();