diff --git a/openmc/material.py b/openmc/material.py
index 0d4fec808..c6a8e6f44 100644
--- a/openmc/material.py
+++ b/openmc/material.py
@@ -521,6 +521,19 @@ class Material(IDManagerMixin):
             if element is None:
                 msg = 'Element name "{}" not recognised'.format(el)
                 raise ValueError(msg)
+        else:
+            if element[0].islower():
+                msg = 'Element name "{}" should start with an uppercase ' \
+                      'letter'.format(element)
+                raise ValueError(msg)
+            if len(element) == 2 and element[1].isupper():
+                msg = 'Element name "{}" should end with a lowercase ' \
+                      'letter'.format(element)
+                raise ValueError(msg)
+            # skips the first entry of ATOMIC_SYMBOL which is n for neutron
+            if element not in list(openmc.data.ATOMIC_SYMBOL.values())[1:]:
+                msg = 'Element name "{}" not recognised'.format(element)
+                raise ValueError(msg)
 
         if self._macroscopic is not None:
             msg = 'Unable to add an Element to Material ID="{}" as a ' \
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
index ee8c54da9..02e53a28d 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_material.py
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ def test_elements():
         m.add_element('U', 1.0, enrichment=70.0, enrichment_target='U235')
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         m.add_element('He', 1.0, enrichment=17.0, enrichment_target='He6')
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        m.add_element('li', 1.0)  # should fail as 1st char is lowercase
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        m.add_element('LI', 1.0)  # should fail as 2nd char is uppercase
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        m.add_element('Xx', 1.0)  # should fail as Xx is not an element
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        m.add_element('n', 1.0)  # check to avoid n for neutron being accepted
+
 
 def test_elements_by_name():
     """Test adding elements by name"""