diff --git a/src/inventory.cpp b/src/inventory.cpp
index 7051b611..d6815d32 100644
--- a/src/inventory.cpp
+++ b/src/inventory.cpp
@@ -903,6 +903,10 @@ void Inventory::deSerialize(std::istream &is)
 
 			m_lists.push_back(list);
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			throw SerializationError("invalid inventory specifier");
+		}
 	}
 }