diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7a63682fe4..09405b9b20 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 ## [Unreleased]
 
 ### changed
+- **start_functions** Check if cfg$recalibrate is consistent with cfg$gms$s14_use_yield_calib
 - **inputdata** Now using inputdata rev4.94 which is based on 67420 cells (67k, previously 59k)
 - **14_yields_and_config** The new default is to not use yield calibration factors from a calibration run. The switch s14_use_yield_calib can optionally reenable the use of yield calibration factors.
 - **scripts** LUH2_disaggregation output script was modified. Specifically, flooded area was made compatible with the LUH definition, cropland and grazing land were added to the states.nc file, and specific naming/details (datatype,  zname, xname, and yname) were added when creating the .nc files.
diff --git a/scripts/start_functions.R b/scripts/start_functions.R
index 55bda9ae88..a6d47fe389 100644
--- a/scripts/start_functions.R
+++ b/scripts/start_functions.R
@@ -433,6 +433,18 @@ start_run <- function(cfg, scenario = NULL, codeCheck = TRUE, lock_model = TRUE)
   }
 
   # Yield calibration
+
+  # check for inconsistent settings
+  if((cfg$recalibrate == TRUE || cfg$recalibrate == "ifneeded")
+      && cfg$gms$s14_use_yield_calib == 0) {
+    stop("The combination of the switch configurations `cfg$recalibrate <- TRUE/ifneeded`
+          and `cfg$gms$s14_use_yield_calib <- 0` is inconsistent.
+          Please check the config and set `cfg$gms$s14_use_yield_calib <- 1` 
+          if yield calibration is desired, or `cfg$recalibrate <- FALSE` if not.
+          Note that the current default is to not use yield calibration.")
+  }
+
+  # decide if calibration is needed if "ifneeded" is specified
   calib_file <- "modules/14_yields/input/f14_yld_calib.csv"
   if(cfg$recalibrate=="ifneeded") {
     if(!file.exists(calib_file)) {