diff --git a/lib/nodes/iec61850_goose.cpp b/lib/nodes/iec61850_goose.cpp
index 508ced936..3b7b19b5b 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/iec61850_goose.cpp
+++ b/lib/nodes/iec61850_goose.cpp
@@ -979,8 +979,14 @@ void GooseNode::parsePublisherData(json_t *json,
 
     auto signal = std::optional<int>{};
 
-    if (signal_str)
+    if (signal_str) {
       signal = out.signals->getIndexByName(signal_str);
+      if (!signal || *signal == -1)
+        throw RuntimeError("Name not found in output signal section");
+    }
+
+    if (!json_value && !signal_str)
+      throw RuntimeError("Need either signal name or signal value");
 
     OutputData value = {.signal = signal,
                         .default_value =