diff --git a/scenarios/s3_multipart.js b/scenarios/s3_multipart.js
index cfba0c6..39177f2 100644
--- a/scenarios/s3_multipart.js
+++ b/scenarios/s3_multipart.js
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ if (write_multipart_vu_count < 1) {
     throw 'number of parts to upload in parallel should be greater than 0';
 }
 const write_vu_count = parseInt(__ENV.WRITERS || '0');
+if (write_vu_count < 1) {
+    throw 'number of VUs performing write operations should be greater than 0';
+}
 if (write_vu_count > 0) {
     scenarios.write = {
         executor: 'constant-vus',