diff --git a/src/r_things.c b/src/r_things.c
index bf4b3ca40..ea8b8b73c 100644
--- a/src/r_things.c
+++ b/src/r_things.c
@@ -2871,6 +2871,8 @@ static void R_LoadSkinSprites(UINT16 wadnum, UINT16 *lump, UINT16 *lastlump, ski
 	for (sprite2 = 0; sprite2 < free_spr2; sprite2++)
 		R_AddSingleSpriteDef((spritename = spr2names[sprite2]), &skin->sprites[sprite2], wadnum, *lump, *lastlump);
 
+	if (skin->sprites[0].numframes == 0)
+		I_Error("R_LoadSkinSprites: no frames found for sprite SPR2_%s\n", spr2names[0]);
 }
 
 // returns whether found appropriate property