diff --git a/include/sqlpp11/insert_value_list.h b/include/sqlpp11/insert_value_list.h
index bb20ee69..3157b2bf 100644
--- a/include/sqlpp11/insert_value_list.h
+++ b/include/sqlpp11/insert_value_list.h
@@ -322,7 +322,10 @@ namespace sqlpp
 				template<typename T>
 					using _new_statement_t = typename Policies::template _new_statement_t<no_insert_value_list_t, T>;
 
-				static void _check_consistency() {}
+				static void _check_consistency() 
+				{
+					static_assert(wrong_t<_methods_t>::value, "insert values required, e.g. set(...) or default_values()");
+				}
 
 				auto default_values()
 					-> _new_statement_t<insert_default_values_t>
diff --git a/include/sqlpp11/update_list.h b/include/sqlpp11/update_list.h
index 6b8a255a..1ee40173 100644
--- a/include/sqlpp11/update_list.h
+++ b/include/sqlpp11/update_list.h
@@ -167,7 +167,10 @@ namespace sqlpp
 				template<typename T>
 					using _new_statement_t = typename Policies::template _new_statement_t<no_update_list_t, T>;
 
-				static void _check_consistency() {}
+				static void _check_consistency()
+				{
+					static_assert(wrong_t<_methods_t>::value, "update assignments required, i.e. set(...)");
+				}
 
 				template<typename... Assignments>
 					auto set(Assignments... assignments)