diff --git a/src/Models/ThemeConfig/LayerConfig.ts b/src/Models/ThemeConfig/LayerConfig.ts
index 19bfe641ad..e4f535cca8 100644
--- a/src/Models/ThemeConfig/LayerConfig.ts
+++ b/src/Models/ThemeConfig/LayerConfig.ts
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ export default class LayerConfig extends WithContextLoader {
 
         this.syncSelection = json.syncSelection ?? "no"
         if(!json.source){
+            if(json.presets === undefined){
+                throw "Error while parsing "+json.id+" in "+context+"; no source given"
+            }
             this.source = new SourceConfig({
                 osmTags: TagUtils.Tag({or: json.presets.map(pr => ({and:pr.tags}))})
             })