diff --git a/src/modules/basecall.nf b/src/modules/basecall.nf
index a2cad7b271ff37608f4df17ba24cb81d9511f703..e60db1efc72222514a91e929637f68bc3b8f4908 100755
--- a/src/modules/basecall.nf
+++ b/src/modules/basecall.nf
@@ -41,6 +41,11 @@ process BASECALL {
 
     script:
         """
+        if [[ "${basecall_trim}" != "none" && "${trimmed_barcodes}" == "False" ]]; then
+            echo "Error: basecall_trim has to be \"none\" for trimmed_barcodes to be \"False\""
+            exit
+        fi
+
         echo "Basecalling started for: ${id}"
         if [[ "${basecall_config}" == "None" ]]; then
             if [[ "${basecall_mods}" == "None" ]]; then