diff --git a/src/tallies/tally.cpp b/src/tallies/tally.cpp
index 038bcec649..04fc238967 100644
--- a/src/tallies/tally.cpp
+++ b/src/tallies/tally.cpp
@@ -282,6 +282,21 @@ Tally::Tally(pugi::xml_node node)
         "Invalid estimator '{}' on tally {}", est, id_)};
     }
   }
+
+#ifdef LIBMESH
+  // ensure a tracklength tally isn't used with a libMesh filter
+  for (auto i : this->filters_) {
+    auto df = dynamic_cast<MeshFilter*>(model::tally_filters[i].get());
+    int32_t mesh {-1};
+    if (df) { mesh = df->mesh(); }
+    auto lm = dynamic_cast<LibMesh*>(model::meshes[mesh].get());
+    if (lm && estimator_ == TallyEstimator::TRACKLENGTH) {
+      fatal_error("A tracklength estimator cannot be used with "
+                  "an unstructured LibMesh tally.");
+    }
+  }
+#endif
+
 }
 
 Tally::~Tally()