diff --git a/src/sacctmgr/common.c b/src/sacctmgr/common.c
index f1f269456c3af672d372dff2cf1357fed4df94e6..c333030e369af72d3f0970635deb98bd915352ac 100644
--- a/src/sacctmgr/common.c
+++ b/src/sacctmgr/common.c
@@ -574,6 +574,12 @@ extern void addto_qos_char_list(List char_list, List qos_list, char *names)
 			bad:
 				i++;
 				start = i;
+				if(!names[i]) {
+					info("There is a problem with "
+					     "your line.  It appears you "
+					     "have spaces inside your list.");
+					break;
+				}
 			}
 			i++;
 		}