diff --git a/Options.py b/Options.py
index 40a6996d32..83b6a4162a 100644
--- a/Options.py
+++ b/Options.py
@@ -735,6 +735,11 @@ class NamedRange(Range):
         elif value > self.range_end and value not in self.special_range_names.values():
             raise Exception(f"{value} is higher than maximum {self.range_end} for option {self.__class__.__name__} " +
                             f"and is also not one of the supported named special values: {self.special_range_names}")
+
+        for key in self.special_range_names:
+            if key != key.lower() or " " in key:
+                raise Exception(f"{self.__class__.__name__} has an invalid special_range_names key: {key}. "
+                                f"NamedRange keys must use only lowercase letters and underscores.")
         self.value = value
 
     @classmethod