diff --git a/src/simulation/simulation_state.jl b/src/simulation/simulation_state.jl
index c089ef185..4b0daacf9 100644
--- a/src/simulation/simulation_state.jl
+++ b/src/simulation/simulation_state.jl
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ function _initialize_system_states!(
         if has_dataset(emulator_states, key)
             em_cols = get_column_names(key, get_dataset(emulator_states, key))
             @assert_op length(dm_cols) == length(em_cols)
-            @assert isempty(symdiff(dm_cols, em_cols))
+            if !isempty(symdiff(dm_cols, em_cols))
+                error("Mismatch in column names for dataset $key: $(symdiff(dm_cols, em_cols))")
+            end
             continue
         end