diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
index d48941bf3d..084c3a593e 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.cc
@@ -2170,6 +2170,22 @@ void parse_conf_range_double(Dictionary *dict, double &beg, double &end) {
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
+void check_mask_names(const StringArray &sa) {
+   StringArray sa_uniq = sa.uniq();
+
+   // Check for unique mask names
+   if(sa_uniq.n() < sa.n()) {
+      mlog << Error << "\ncheck_mask_names() -> "
+           << "found non-unique strings in the list of masking region names ("
+           << write_css(sa) << ")!\n\n";
+      exit(1);
+   }
+
+   return;
+}
+
+///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
 void check_climo_n_vx(Dictionary *dict, const int n_vx) {
    int n;
 
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
index f526165a93..d09a154c4c 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_config/config_util.h
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ extern map<ConcatString,ThreshArray>
 extern void            parse_conf_range_int(Dictionary *dict, int &beg, int &end);
 extern void            parse_conf_range_double(Dictionary *dict, double &beg, double &end);
 
+extern void         check_mask_names(const StringArray &);
+
 extern void         check_climo_n_vx(Dictionary *dict, const int);
 
 extern InterpMthd   int_to_interpmthd(int);
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.cc b/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.cc
index 10f2660320..e48a46e2b3 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.cc
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.cc
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ return;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 
-StringArray StringArray::uniq()
+StringArray StringArray::uniq() const
 
 {
 
diff --git a/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.h b/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.h
index ada442282b..8cec395275 100644
--- a/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.h
+++ b/met/src/basic/vx_log/string_array.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class StringArray {
          //  return a unique subset of strings
          //
 
-      StringArray uniq();
+      StringArray uniq() const;
 
 };
 
diff --git a/met/src/tools/core/grid_stat/grid_stat_conf_info.cc b/met/src/tools/core/grid_stat/grid_stat_conf_info.cc
index a97c9a6693..a5702ca06f 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/core/grid_stat/grid_stat_conf_info.cc
+++ b/met/src/tools/core/grid_stat/grid_stat_conf_info.cc
@@ -353,6 +353,9 @@ void GridStatConfInfo::process_masks(const Grid &grid) {
          exit(1);
       }
 
+      // Check for unique mask names
+      check_mask_names(vx_opt[i].mask_name);
+
    } // end for i
 
    return;
diff --git a/met/src/tools/core/point_stat/point_stat_conf_info.cc b/met/src/tools/core/point_stat/point_stat_conf_info.cc
index f00072f837..0d8dd3fa43 100644
--- a/met/src/tools/core/point_stat/point_stat_conf_info.cc
+++ b/met/src/tools/core/point_stat/point_stat_conf_info.cc
@@ -363,6 +363,9 @@ void PointStatConfInfo::process_masks(const Grid &grid) {
 
       } // end for j
 
+      // Check for unique mask names
+      check_mask_names(vx_opt[i].mask_name);
+
    } // end for i
 
    return;