diff --git a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/scene/VertexBuffer.java b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/scene/VertexBuffer.java
index e55b7a0f7..341edf0b7 100644
--- a/engine/src/core/com/jme3/scene/VertexBuffer.java
+++ b/engine/src/core/com/jme3/scene/VertexBuffer.java
@@ -390,6 +390,12 @@ public class VertexBuffer extends GLObject implements Savable, Cloneable {
         if (id != -1)
             throw new UnsupportedOperationException("Data has already been sent. Cannot setupData again.");
 
+        if (usage == null || format == null || data == null)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("None of the arguments can be null");
+            
+        if (components < 1 || components > 4)
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("components must be between 1 and 4");
+
         this.data = data;
         this.components = components;
         this.usage = usage;