diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.c b/src/kernel/messages.c
index f92b8acf9..9291592b1 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.c
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.c
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ message *msg_message(const char *name, const char *sig, ...)
     const message_type *mtype = mt_find(name);
     char paramname[64];
     const char *ic = sig;
+    int argnum=0;
     variant args[16];
     memset(args, 0, sizeof(args));
 
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ message *msg_message(const char *name, const char *sig, ...)
             else {
                 assert(!"unknown variant type");
             }
+            argnum++;
         }
         else {
             log_error("invalid parameter %s for message type %s\n", paramname, mtype->name);
@@ -192,6 +194,10 @@ message *msg_message(const char *name, const char *sig, ...)
             ic++;
     }
     va_end(vargs);
+    if (argnum !=  mtype->nparameters) {
+        log_error("not enough parameters for message type %s\n", mtype->name);
+        assert(!"program aborted.");
+    }
 
     return msg_create(mtype, args);
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/spy.test.c b/src/kernel/spy.test.c
index fc1a5f53c..07a414220 100644
--- a/src/kernel/spy.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/spy.test.c
@@ -50,9 +50,8 @@ static void test_spy_message(CuTest *tc) {
     spy_fixture fix;
     struct mlist *msglist;
     struct message *msg;
-    int m, p;
+    int m;
     const message_type *expected[3];
-    variant v;
 
     setup_spy(&fix);
     enable_skill(SK_MAGIC, true);
@@ -72,12 +71,6 @@ static void test_spy_message(CuTest *tc) {
     while (msglist) {
 	msg = msglist->msg;
 	CuAssertStrEquals(tc, expected[m]->name, msg->type->name);
-	/* I'm not sure how to test for correct number and maybe even type of parameters */
-	for (p = 0; p != msg->type->nparameters; ++p) {
-	    v = msg->parameters[p];
-	    if (v.v || !v.v)
-		v = msg->parameters[p];
-	}
 	msglist = msglist->next;
 	++m;
     }