diff --git a/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java b/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
index fde75522..36ea3b8b 100644
--- a/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
+++ b/src/engine/objects/ItemTemplate.java
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ public class ItemTemplate {
             item_wt = ((Long) jsonObject.get("item_wt")).intValue();
             item_passive_defense_mod = ((Double) jsonObject.get("item_passive_defense_mod")).floatValue();
             item_base_name = (String) jsonObject.get("item_base_name");
+
+            if (item_base_name == null)
+                Logger.error(this.obj_name + " missing base name");
+
             item_dsc = (String) jsonObject.get("item_dsc");
             item_render_object_female = ((Long) jsonObject.get("item_render_object_female")).intValue();
             item_health_full = ((Double) jsonObject.get("item_health_full")).floatValue();