diff --git a/control/json/manager.cpp b/control/json/manager.cpp
index d7e3b06..4315cf1 100644
--- a/control/json/manager.cpp
+++ b/control/json/manager.cpp
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@
 {
     if (powerStateOn)
     {
+        if (_zones.empty())
+        {
+            throw std::runtime_error("No configured zones found at poweron");
+        }
         std::for_each(_zones.begin(), _zones.end(), [](const auto& entry) {
             entry.second->setTarget(entry.second->getPoweronTarget());
         });