diff --git a/pystencils_walberla/jinja_filters.py b/pystencils_walberla/jinja_filters.py
index b2aea751652f56fef2597b816074e660f55c2e83..2e4ef712ba5271488b85c8bd9bcab0e87cab14dc 100644
--- a/pystencils_walberla/jinja_filters.py
+++ b/pystencils_walberla/jinja_filters.py
@@ -265,6 +265,9 @@ def generate_call(ctx, kernel_info, ghost_layers_to_include=0, cell_interval=Non
         else:
             spatial_shape_symbols = [TypedSymbol(s, SHAPE_DTYPE) for s in spatial_shape_symbols]
 
+        assert spatial_shape_symbols, "No shape parameters in kernel function arguments.\n"\
+            "Please be only use kernels for generic field sizes!"
+
         indexing_dict = ast.indexing.call_parameters(spatial_shape_symbols)
         sp_printer_c = CudaSympyPrinter()
         kernel_call_lines += [
@@ -304,7 +307,7 @@ def generate_constructor_initializer_list(kernel_info, parameters_to_ignore=None
 def generate_constructor_parameters(kernel_info, parameters_to_ignore=None):
     if parameters_to_ignore is None:
         parameters_to_ignore = []
-        
+
     varying_parameters = []
     if hasattr(kernel_info, 'varying_parameters'):
         varying_parameters = kernel_info.varying_parameters