diff --git a/GUI/Models/InstrumentItems.h b/GUI/Models/InstrumentItems.h
index 58393bb537c65da13025b1178aa432e9e0d15ed5..295fbb872370f0f74120fe87ea8ed67aa856dd9e 100644
--- a/GUI/Models/InstrumentItems.h
+++ b/GUI/Models/InstrumentItems.h
@@ -174,6 +174,9 @@ public:
 template <typename T>
 T* InstrumentItem::setBackgroundType()
 {
+    static_assert(std::is_base_of<BackgroundItem,T>::value,
+                  "Class must be derived from BackgroundItem");
+
     return setGroupPropertyType<T>(P_BACKGROUND);
 }