diff --git a/dpdata/system.py b/dpdata/system.py
index 5451e22ae..6089db46d 100644
--- a/dpdata/system.py
+++ b/dpdata/system.py
@@ -810,6 +810,11 @@ def perturb(self,
         perturbed_system : System
             The perturbed_system. It contains `pert_num` * frame_num of the input system frames.
         """
+        if type(self) is not dpdata.System:
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f'Using method perturb() of an instance of {type(self)}. '
+                f'Must use method perturb() of the instance of class dpdata.System.'
+            )
         perturbed_system = System()
         nframes = self.get_nframes()
         for ii in range(nframes):