diff --git a/runner_scripts/root/run.sh b/runner_scripts/root/run.sh
index fe2781601b6100eaf6e6f7ddba89ccac8f27c465..edc81c53c621f049c3f802a98150e974ad76ae8d 100755
--- a/runner_scripts/root/run.sh
+++ b/runner_scripts/root/run.sh
@@ -71,6 +71,15 @@ if [[ ("$2" == "step_script" || "$2" == "build_script") && ${CUSTOM_ENV_SUBMIT_T
     : "${SLURM_TIME:=$SLURM_TIMELIMIT}"
     : "${SLURM_NODELIST:="phinally"}" # default node: phinally
 
+    if [ ! $(sinfo -n "$SLURM_NODELIST" -h -O NodeList) ]; then
+        echo "Unknown node $SLURM_NODELIST specified. Available nodes: " >&2
+        echo "$(sinfo -N -o '%N %c %m')" >&2
+        error
+    fi
+
+    SLURM_NODES=1 # currently only individual nodes can be used
+    export SLURM_NODES
+
     export SLURM_JOB_NAME
     export SLURM_TIME
     unset SLURM_TIMELIMIT