diff --git a/deepmd_utils/model_format/network.py b/deepmd_utils/model_format/network.py
index b7e5c7c288..98c35636fa 100644
--- a/deepmd_utils/model_format/network.py
+++ b/deepmd_utils/model_format/network.py
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.idt = idt.astype(prec) if idt is not None else None
         self.activation_function = activation_function
         self.resnet = resnet
+        self.check_type_consistency()
 
     def serialize(self) -> dict:
         """Serialize the layer to a dict.
@@ -192,21 +193,6 @@ def deserialize(cls, data: dict) -> "NativeLayer":
             The dict to deserialize from.
         """
         precision = data.get("precision", DEFAULT_PRECISION)
-        # assertion "float64" == "double" would fail
-        assert (
-            PRECISION_DICT[data["@variables"]["w"].dtype.name]
-            is PRECISION_DICT[precision]
-        )
-        if data["@variables"].get("b", None) is not None:
-            assert (
-                PRECISION_DICT[data["@variables"]["b"].dtype.name]
-                is PRECISION_DICT[precision]
-            )
-        if data["@variables"].get("idt", None) is not None:
-            assert (
-                PRECISION_DICT[data["@variables"]["idt"].dtype.name]
-                is PRECISION_DICT[precision]
-            )
         return cls(
             w=data["@variables"]["w"],
             b=data["@variables"].get("b", None),
@@ -216,6 +202,18 @@ def deserialize(cls, data: dict) -> "NativeLayer":
             precision=precision,
         )
 
+    def check_type_consistency(self):
+        precision = self.precision
+
+        def check_var(var):
+            if var is not None:
+                # assertion "float64" == "double" would fail
+                assert PRECISION_DICT[var.dtype.name] is PRECISION_DICT[precision]
+
+        check_var(self.w)
+        check_var(self.b)
+        check_var(self.idt)
+
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         if key in ("w", "matrix"):
             self.w = value