diff --git a/apps/decoder.c b/apps/decoder.c
index de0dd8bca9161e73bf2e5f856a5de51884ac6c89..eeb2a19f20c1baba67e96b140f4beb1712e0a3ce 100644
--- a/apps/decoder.c
+++ b/apps/decoder.c
@@ -1704,6 +1704,15 @@ static bool parseCmdlIVAS_dec(
             usage_dec();
             return false;
         }
+
+#ifdef FIX_1081_BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM_SANITY_CHECK
+        if ( arg->outputMdFilename != NULL && arg->outputConfig != IVAS_AUDIO_CONFIG_BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM )
+        {
+            fprintf( stderr, "Error: Output split rendering metadata file is supported for BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM output config. only\n\n" );
+            usage_dec();
+            return false;
+        }
+#endif
     }
     else
     {
@@ -1990,6 +1999,14 @@ static ivas_error initOnFirstGoodFrame(
         }
         else
         {
+#ifdef FIX_1081_BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM_SANITY_CHECK
+            if ( arg.outputMdFilename == NULL )
+            {
+                fprintf( stderr, "\nOutput split rendering metadata file not specified\n" );
+                return IVAS_ERR_INVALID_SPLIT_REND_CONFIG;
+            }
+#endif
+
             if ( ( error = split_rend_writer_open( splitRendWriter, arg.outputMdFilename, delayNumSamples_temp[0], delayTimeScale_temp, splitRendCodec, poseCorrection, splitRendCodecFrameSizeMs ) ) != IVAS_ERR_OK )
             {
                 fprintf( stderr, "\nUnable to open output split rendering metadata file %s\n", arg.outputWavFilename );
diff --git a/lib_com/options.h b/lib_com/options.h
index 43cb02520ede8f5b965f04b2be7cd46f3c0afd4d..e1afdee81a239594712facefcdb93f8de1eebae1 100644
--- a/lib_com/options.h
+++ b/lib_com/options.h
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
 #define FIX_NUM_SUBFRAME_UPDATE
 
 #define FIX_1053_REVERB_RECONFIGURATION                 /* Philips: issue 1053: fix for dynamic switching of acoustic environment */
-
+#define FIX_1081_BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM_SANITY_CHECK        /* VA: issue 1081: correct error print-out when BINAURAL_SPLIT_PCM is requested */
 
 /* #################### End BE switches ################################## */