diff --git a/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesBasic.cpp b/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesBasic.cpp
index 7a70d2c6d..768991e62 100644
--- a/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesBasic.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesBasic.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ namespace Opm
         rock_.init(dim, num_cells, poro, perm);
 	pvt_.init(param);
         satprops_.init(param);
+	if (pvt_.numPhases() != satprops_.numPhases()) {
+	    THROW("BlackoilPropertiesBasic::BlackoilPropertiesBasic() - Inconsistent number of phases in pvt data ("
+		  << pvt_.numPhases() << ") and saturation-dependent function data (" << satprops_.numPhases() << ").");
+	}
     }
 
     BlackoilPropertiesBasic::~BlackoilPropertiesBasic()
diff --git a/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck.cpp b/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck.cpp
index a66c5f57a..6e6fbdbf4 100644
--- a/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck.cpp
+++ b/opm/core/fluid/BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ namespace Opm
         rock_.init(deck, global_cell);
         pvt_.init(deck);
         satprops_.init(deck);
+	if (pvt_.numPhases() != satprops_.numPhases()) {
+	    THROW("BlackoilPropertiesBasic::BlackoilPropertiesBasic() - Inconsistent number of phases in pvt data ("
+		  << pvt_.numPhases() << ") and saturation-dependent function data (" << satprops_.numPhases() << ").");
+	}
     }
 
     BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck::~BlackoilPropertiesFromDeck()