diff --git a/gstlal-inspiral/python/stats/inspiral_extrinsics.py b/gstlal-inspiral/python/stats/inspiral_extrinsics.py
index 449219b8fd6833a12f04f18ee1d0bd8788a736a9..12782cb5ae689eebc7e9b949d05747433ec6b335 100644
--- a/gstlal-inspiral/python/stats/inspiral_extrinsics.py
+++ b/gstlal-inspiral/python/stats/inspiral_extrinsics.py
@@ -343,6 +343,10 @@ class SNRPDF(object):
 		impossible to obtain a candidate (the trigger SNR
 		threshold).
 		"""
+		if log_distance_tolerance <= 0.:
+			raise ValueError("require log_distance_tolerance > 0")
+		if not 0. <= min_ratio < 1.:
+			raise ValueError("require 0 <= min_ratio < 1")
 		self.snr_cutoff = snr_cutoff
 		self.log_distance_tolerance = log_distance_tolerance
 		self.min_ratio = min_ratio