diff --git a/source/lib/include/SimulationRegion_Impl.h b/source/lib/include/SimulationRegion_Impl.h
index 2b4ed1a72b..5b3aa2ef02 100644
--- a/source/lib/include/SimulationRegion_Impl.h
+++ b/source/lib/include/SimulationRegion_Impl.h
@@ -500,6 +500,9 @@ computeVolume()
       boxt[0*3+1] * (boxt[1*3+0]*boxt[2*3+2] - boxt[2*3+0]*boxt[1*3+2]) +
       boxt[0*3+2] * (boxt[1*3+0]*boxt[2*3+1] - boxt[2*3+0]*boxt[1*3+1]);
   volumei = static_cast<double>(1.)/volume;
+  if (volume < 0) {
+    throw std::runtime_error("Negative volume detected. Please make sure the simulation cell obeys the right-hand rule.");
+  }
 }
 
 template<typename VALUETYPE>