diff --git a/framework/include/materials/DerivativeMaterialInterface.h b/framework/include/materials/DerivativeMaterialInterface.h
index 5f6f51c1a764..be663c35e6e1 100644
--- a/framework/include/materials/DerivativeMaterialInterface.h
+++ b/framework/include/materials/DerivativeMaterialInterface.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 #include "Material.h"
 #include "MaterialProperty.h"
+#include "KernelBase.h"
 #include "FEProblem.h"
 #include "BlockRestrictable.h"
 #include "BoundaryRestrictable.h"
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ void mooseSetToZero(T & v)
   v = 0;
 }
 template<typename T>
-void mooseSetToZero(T* & )
+void mooseSetToZero(T* &)
 {
   mooseError("Cannot use pointer types for MaterialProperty derivatives.");
 }
@@ -104,6 +105,19 @@ class DerivativeMaterialInterface :
   const MaterialProperty<U> & getMaterialPropertyDerivativeByName(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const VariableName & c1, const VariableName & c2 = "", const VariableName & c3 = "");
   ///@}
 
+  ///@{
+  /**
+   * check if derivatives of the passed in material property exist w.r.t a variable
+   * that is _not_ coupled in to the current object
+   */
+  template<typename U>
+  void validateCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const std::vector<VariableName> & c, bool validate_aux = true);
+  template<typename U>
+  void validateCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const VariableName & c1 = "", const VariableName & c2 = "", const VariableName & c3 = "");
+  template<typename U>
+  void validateNonlinearCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const VariableName & c1 = "", const VariableName & c2 = "", const VariableName & c3 = "");
+  ///@}
+
 private:
   /// Return a constant zero property
   template<typename U>
@@ -113,6 +127,16 @@ class DerivativeMaterialInterface :
   template<typename U>
   bool haveMaterialProperty(const std::string & prop_name);
 
+  /// helper method to combine multiple VariableNames into a vector (if they are != "")
+  std::vector<VariableName> buildVariableVector(const VariableName & c1, const VariableName & c2, const VariableName & c3);
+
+  /// helper method to compile list of missing coupled variables for a given system
+  template<typename U>
+  void validateCouplingHelper(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const std::vector<VariableName> & c, const System & system, std::vector<VariableName> & missing);
+
+  // check if the speciified variable name is not the variable this kernel is acting on (always true for any other type of object)
+  bool isNotKernelVariable(const VariableName & name);
+
   /// Reference to FEProblem
   FEProblem & _dmi_fe_problem;
 
@@ -305,4 +329,116 @@ DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::getMaterialPropertyDerivativeByName(const Materi
   return getDefaultMaterialPropertyByName<U>(propertyNameFirst(base, c1));
 }
 
+template<class T>
+template<typename U>
+void
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::validateCouplingHelper(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const std::vector<VariableName> & c, const System & system, std::vector<VariableName> & missing)
+{
+  unsigned int ncoupled = this->_coupled_moose_vars.size();
+
+  // iterate over all variables in the current system (in groups)
+  for (unsigned int i = 0; i < system.n_variable_groups(); ++i)
+  {
+    const VariableGroup & vg = system.variable_group(i);
+    for (unsigned int j = 0; j < vg.n_variables(); ++j)
+    {
+      std::vector<VariableName> cj(c);
+      VariableName jname = vg.name(j);
+      cj.push_back(jname);
+
+      // if the derivative exists make sure the variable is coupled
+      if (haveMaterialProperty<U>(propertyName(base, cj)))
+      {
+        // kernels to not have the variable they are acting on in coupled_moose_vars
+        bool is_missing = isNotKernelVariable(jname);
+
+        for (unsigned int k = 0; k < ncoupled; ++k)
+          if (this->_coupled_moose_vars[k]->name() == jname)
+          {
+            is_missing = false;
+            break;
+          }
+
+        if (is_missing)
+          missing.push_back(jname);
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+template<class T>
+template<typename U>
+void
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::validateCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const std::vector<VariableName> & c, bool validate_aux)
+{
+  // get the base property name
+  std::string prop_name = this->deducePropertyName(base);
+  // list of potentially missing coupled variables
+  std::vector<VariableName> missing;
+
+  // iterate over all variables in the both the non-linear and auxiliary system (optional)
+  validateCouplingHelper<U>(prop_name, c, _dmi_fe_problem.getNonlinearSystem().system(), missing);
+  if (validate_aux)
+    validateCouplingHelper<U>(prop_name, c, _dmi_fe_problem.getAuxiliarySystem().system(), missing);
+
+  if (missing.size() > 0)
+  {
+    // join list of missing variable names
+    std::string list = missing[0];
+    for (unsigned int i = 1; i < missing.size(); ++i)
+      list += ", " + missing[i];
+
+    mooseError("Missing coupled variables {" << list << "} (add them to args parameter of " << this->name() << ")");
+  }
+}
+
+template<class T>
+std::vector<VariableName>
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::buildVariableVector(const VariableName & c1, const VariableName & c2, const VariableName & c3)
+{
+  std::vector<VariableName> c;
+  if (c1 != "")
+  {
+    c.push_back(c1);
+    if (c2 != "")
+    {
+      c.push_back(c2);
+      if (c3 != "")
+        c.push_back(c3);
+    }
+  }
+  return c;
+}
+
+template<class T>
+template<typename U>
+void
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::validateCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const VariableName & c1, const VariableName & c2, const VariableName & c3)
+{
+  validateCoupling<U>(base, buildVariableVector(c1, c2, c3), true);
+}
+
+template<class T>
+template<typename U>
+void
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::validateNonlinearCoupling(const MaterialPropertyName & base, const VariableName & c1, const VariableName & c2, const VariableName & c3)
+{
+  validateCoupling<U>(base, buildVariableVector(c1, c2, c3), false);
+}
+
+template<class T>
+inline bool
+DerivativeMaterialInterface<T>::isNotKernelVariable(const VariableName & name)
+{
+  // try to cast this to a Kernel pointer
+  KernelBase * k = dynamic_cast<KernelBase *>(this);
+
+  // This interface is not templated on a class derived from Kernel
+  if (k == NULL)
+    return true;
+
+  // We are templated on a kernel class, so we check if the kernel variable
+  return k->variable().name() != name;
+}
+
 #endif //DERIVATIVEMATERIALINTERFACE_H
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACBulk.h b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACBulk.h
index c386fe2c41f9..cdd1cd38f4cc 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACBulk.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACBulk.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class ACBulk : public DerivativeMaterialInterface<JvarMapInterface<KernelValue>
 public:
   ACBulk(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
 
   /// Enum used with computeDFDOP function
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACInterface.h b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACInterface.h
index ce93c78b9412..df8f5c066c80 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACInterface.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACInterface.h
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class ACInterface : public DerivativeMaterialInterface<JvarMapInterface<KernelGr
 public:
   ACInterface(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
 
   /// Enum of computeDFDOP inputs
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACParsed.h b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACParsed.h
index 13fb958be646..8164fbdd1ada 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACParsed.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/ACParsed.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ class ACParsed : public ACBulk
 public:
   ACParsed(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
   virtual Real computeDFDOP(PFFunctionType type);
   virtual Real computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar);
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/CahnHilliardBase.h b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/CahnHilliardBase.h
index 84bd193cbc2d..5a5486285988 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/CahnHilliardBase.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/CahnHilliardBase.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ class CahnHilliardBase : public CHBulk<T>
   CahnHilliardBase(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
   static InputParameters validParams();
+  virtual void initialSetup();
 
 protected:
   typedef typename CHBulk<T>::PFFunctionType PFFunctionType;
@@ -77,6 +78,18 @@ CahnHilliardBase<T>::CahnHilliardBase(const InputParameters & parameters) :
   }
 }
 
+template<typename T>
+void
+CahnHilliardBase<T>:: initialSetup()
+{
+  /**
+   * Check if both the non-linear as well as the auxiliary variables variables
+   * are coupled. Derivatives with respect to both types of variables contribute
+   * the residual.
+   */
+  this->template validateCoupling<Real>("f_name", this->_var.name());
+}
+
 template<typename T>
 RealGradient
 CahnHilliardBase<T>::computeGradDFDCons(PFFunctionType type)
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/SplitCHParsed.h b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/SplitCHParsed.h
index e1a8df198cc2..d68deee7a24a 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/SplitCHParsed.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/kernels/SplitCHParsed.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ class SplitCHParsed : public DerivativeMaterialInterface<JvarMapInterface<SplitC
 public:
   SplitCHParsed(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
   virtual Real computeDFDC(PFFunctionType type);
   virtual Real computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar);
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.h b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.h
index 879659a7b1b6..5b00e1b2eec7 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.h
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ class DerivativeMultiPhaseBase : public DerivativeFunctionMaterialBase
 public:
   DerivativeMultiPhaseBase(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
   virtual Real computeF();
 
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.h b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.h
index 79107c36ed74..441d69472dca 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ class DerivativeSumMaterial : public DerivativeFunctionMaterialBase
 public:
   DerivativeSumMaterial(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
   virtual void computeProperties();
 
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.h b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.h
index 7993f9c9982d..6e8d458b8d58 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.h
+++ b/modules/phase_field/include/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.h
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ class DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial : public DerivativeFunctionMaterialBase
 public:
   DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial(const InputParameters & parameters);
 
+  virtual void initialSetup();
+
 protected:
   virtual Real computeF();
   virtual Real computeDF(unsigned int);
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACBulk.C b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACBulk.C
index 99b06098702e..e5323771415b 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACBulk.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACBulk.C
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ ACBulk::ACBulk(const InputParameters & parameters) :
     _dLdarg[i] = &getMaterialPropertyDerivative<Real>("mob_name", _coupled_moose_vars[i]->name());
 }
 
+void
+ACBulk::initialSetup()
+{
+  validateNonlinearCoupling<Real>("mob_name");
+}
+
 Real
 ACBulk::precomputeQpResidual()
 {
@@ -65,4 +71,3 @@ ACBulk::computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar)
   // Set off-diagonal Jacobian term from mobility derivatives
   return (*_dLdarg[cvar])[_qp] * _phi[_j][_qp] * computeDFDOP(Residual) * _test[_i][_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACInterface.C b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACInterface.C
index 1593d412c7b1..4b5caf3d0652 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACInterface.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACInterface.C
@@ -34,6 +34,12 @@ ACInterface::ACInterface(const InputParameters & parameters) :
     _dLdarg[i] = &getMaterialPropertyDerivative<Real>("mob_name", _coupled_moose_vars[i]->name());
 }
 
+void
+ACInterface::initialSetup()
+{
+  validateNonlinearCoupling<Real>("mob_name");
+}
+
 RealGradient
 ACInterface::precomputeQpResidual()
 {
@@ -59,4 +65,3 @@ ACInterface::computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar)
   // Set off-diagonal jaocbian terms from mobility dependence
   return _kappa[_qp] * (*_dLdarg[cvar])[_qp] * _phi[_j][_qp] * _grad_u[_qp] * _grad_test[_i][_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACParsed.C b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACParsed.C
index d96a3de5800b..74c149208f54 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACParsed.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/ACParsed.C
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ ACParsed::ACParsed(const InputParameters & parameters) :
     _d2FdEtadarg[i] = &getMaterialPropertyDerivative<Real>("f_name", _var.name(), _coupled_moose_vars[i]->name());
 }
 
+void
+ACParsed::initialSetup()
+{
+  ACBulk::initialSetup();
+  validateNonlinearCoupling<Real>("f_name");
+}
+
 Real
 ACParsed::computeDFDOP(PFFunctionType type)
 {
@@ -55,4 +62,3 @@ ACParsed::computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar)
   return ACBulk::computeQpOffDiagJacobian(jvar) +
          _L[_qp] * (*_d2FdEtadarg[cvar])[_qp] * _phi[_j][_qp] * _test[_i][_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/SplitCHParsed.C b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/SplitCHParsed.C
index 0a03c045fe6d..35ebbea44b25 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/SplitCHParsed.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/kernels/SplitCHParsed.C
@@ -30,6 +30,17 @@ SplitCHParsed::SplitCHParsed(const InputParameters & parameters) :
     _d2Fdcdarg[i] = &getMaterialPropertyDerivative<Real>("f_name", _var.name(), _coupled_moose_vars[i]->name());
 }
 
+void
+SplitCHParsed::initialSetup()
+{
+  /**
+   * We are only interested if the necessary non-linear variables are coupled,
+   * as those are thge ones used in constructing the Jacobian. The AuxVariables
+   * do not have Jacobian entries.
+   */
+  validateNonlinearCoupling<Real>("f_name", _var.name());
+}
+
 Real
 SplitCHParsed::computeDFDC(PFFunctionType type)
 {
@@ -58,4 +69,3 @@ SplitCHParsed::computeQpOffDiagJacobian(unsigned int jvar)
 
   return (*_d2Fdcdarg[cvar])[_qp] * _phi[_j][_qp] * _test[_i][_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.C b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.C
index 26e9713acd93..f078c510797e 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeMultiPhaseBase.C
@@ -115,6 +115,13 @@ DerivativeMultiPhaseBase::DerivativeMultiPhaseBase(const InputParameters & param
   }
 }
 
+void
+DerivativeMultiPhaseBase::initialSetup()
+{
+  for (unsigned int n = 0; n < _num_fi; ++n)
+    validateCoupling<Real>(_fi_names[n]);
+}
+
 Real
 DerivativeMultiPhaseBase::computeF()
 {
@@ -123,4 +130,3 @@ DerivativeMultiPhaseBase::computeF()
     F += (*_hi[n])[_qp] * (*_prop_Fi[n])[_qp];
   return F + _W * _g[_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.C b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.C
index e105aa70bccb..4914e3f0fff7 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeSumMaterial.C
@@ -81,6 +81,13 @@ DerivativeSumMaterial::DerivativeSumMaterial(const InputParameters & parameters)
   }
 }
 
+void
+DerivativeSumMaterial::initialSetup()
+{
+  for (unsigned int n = 0; n < _num_materials; ++n)
+    validateCoupling<Real>(_sum_materials[n]);
+}
+
 void
 DerivativeSumMaterial::computeProperties()
 {
@@ -127,4 +134,3 @@ DerivativeSumMaterial::computeProperties()
     }
   }
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.C b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.C
index c9b6f96f4cbd..6675fb9406a7 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.C
+++ b/modules/phase_field/src/materials/DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial.C
@@ -87,6 +87,13 @@ DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial::DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial(const InputParameters & p
   }
 }
 
+void
+DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial::initialSetup()
+{
+  validateCoupling<Real>("fa_name");
+  validateCoupling<Real>("fb_name");
+}
+
 Real
 DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial::computeF()
 {
@@ -148,4 +155,3 @@ DerivativeTwoPhaseMaterial::computeD3F(unsigned int i_var, unsigned int j_var, u
 
   return _h[_qp] * (*_prop_d3Fb[i][j][k])[_qp] + (1.0 - _h[_qp]) * (*_prop_d3Fa[i][j][k])[_qp];
 }
-
diff --git a/modules/phase_field/tests/MultiPhase/derivativetwophasematerial.i b/modules/phase_field/tests/MultiPhase/derivativetwophasematerial.i
index dde8a9193308..dab07297d83d 100644
--- a/modules/phase_field/tests/MultiPhase/derivativetwophasematerial.i
+++ b/modules/phase_field/tests/MultiPhase/derivativetwophasematerial.i
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
   [./ACBulk]
     type = ACParsed
     variable = eta
+    args = c
     f_name = F
   [../]
   [./ACInterface]