diff --git a/Options.py b/Options.py
index 0d0e6ae1..d3b2e6c1 100644
--- a/Options.py
+++ b/Options.py
@@ -863,6 +863,8 @@ class ItemDict(OptionDict):
     verify_item_name = True
 
     def __init__(self, value: typing.Dict[str, int]):
+        if any(item_count is None for item_count in value.values()):
+            raise Exception("Items must have counts associated with them. Please provide positive integer values in the format \"item\": count .")
         if any(item_count < 1 for item_count in value.values()):
             raise Exception("Cannot have non-positive item counts.")
         super(ItemDict, self).__init__(value)