diff --git a/src/lasp/device/lasp_daq.cpp b/src/lasp/device/lasp_daq.cpp
index 158ac04..a5d1bd5 100644
--- a/src/lasp/device/lasp_daq.cpp
+++ b/src/lasp/device/lasp_daq.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #if LASP_HAS_RTAUDIO == 1
 #include "lasp_rtaudiodaq.h"
 #endif
-using std::runtime_error;
+using rte = std::runtime_error;
 
 Daq::~Daq() { DEBUGTRACE_ENTER; }
 
@@ -28,28 +28,37 @@ std::unique_ptr<Daq> Daq::createDaq(const DeviceInfo &devinfo,
     return createRtAudioDevice(devinfo, config);
   }
 #endif
-  throw std::runtime_error(string("Unable to match Device API: ") +
-                           devinfo.api.apiname);
+  throw rte(string("Unable to match Device API: ") + devinfo.api.apiname);
 }
 
 Daq::Daq(const DeviceInfo &devinfo, const DaqConfiguration &config)
     : DaqConfiguration(config), DeviceInfo(devinfo) {
   DEBUGTRACE_ENTER;
 
+  if (duplexMode()) {
+    if (neninchannels() == 0) {
+      throw rte("Duplex mode enabled, but no input channels enabled");
+    }
+
+    if (nenoutchannels() == 0) {
+      throw rte("Duplex mode enabled, but no output channels enabled");
+    }
+  }
+
   if (!hasInternalOutputMonitor && monitorOutput) {
-    throw std::runtime_error(
+    throw rte(
         "Output monitor flag set, but device does not have output monitor");
   }
 
   if (!config.match(devinfo)) {
-    throw std::runtime_error("DaqConfiguration does not match device info");
+    throw rte("DaqConfiguration does not match device info");
   }
   if (neninchannels(false) > ninchannels) {
-    throw std::runtime_error(
+    throw rte(
         "Number of enabled input channels is higher than device capability");
   }
   if (nenoutchannels() > noutchannels) {
-    throw std::runtime_error(
+    throw rte(
         "Number of enabled output channels is higher than device capability");
   }
 }
@@ -68,7 +77,7 @@ const DataTypeDescriptor &Daq::dtypeDescr() const {
 
 double Daq::inputRangeForChannel(us ch) const {
   if (!(ch < ninchannels)) {
-    throw runtime_error("Invalid channel number");
+    throw rte("Invalid channel number");
   }
   return availableInputRanges.at(inchannel_config[ch].rangeIndex);
 }