diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/bin/gstlal_inspiral b/gstlal-inspiral/bin/gstlal_inspiral
index c7b4d66108734b30f51d66419a203df1106a5e18..b5a022e1ecb1c24762f315770a0b2901f7af7053 100755
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/bin/gstlal_inspiral
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/bin/gstlal_inspiral
@@ -420,6 +420,8 @@ def parse_command_line():
 
 	if options.reference_psd is None and not options.track_psd:
 		raise ValueError("must use --track-psd if no reference psd is given, you can use both simultaneously")
+	if options.psd_fft_length < 32:
+		raise ValueError("--psd-fft-length cannot be less than 32")
 	if options.local_frame_caching and not options.data_source == "frames":
 		raise ValueError('--local-frame-caching can only be used if --data-source = "frames"')
 	if options.chisq_type not in ["autochisq", "timeslicechisq"]: