diff --git a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/htmlemit.py b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/htmlemit.py
index 493a0b6b5a..f492d442e8 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/htmlemit.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/htmlemit.py
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ DO NOT EDIT
                         t += "<table><th>Value</th><th>Meaning</th>\n"
                         for value in values:
                             v = value.split(':')
+                            if len(v) != 2:
+                                raise ValueError("Bad value (%s)" % v)
                             t += "<tr><td>%s</td><td>%s</td></tr>\n" % (v[0], v[1])
                         t += "</table>\n"
                     elif field == 'Units':
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/mdemit.py b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/mdemit.py
index 806765fd28..d40ee4519a 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/mdemit.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/mdemit.py
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ class MDEmit(Emit):
                         t += "\n|:---:|:---:|"
                         for value in values:
                             v = value.split(':')
+                            if len(v) != 2:
+                                raise ValueError("Bad value (%s)" % v)
                             t += "\n|%s|%s|" % (v[0], v[1])
                     else:
                         t += "\n\n- %s: %s" % (field, param.__dict__[field])
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/wikiemit.py b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/wikiemit.py
index e921adb5e6..4134b70c04 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/wikiemit.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/wikiemit.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ class WikiEmit(Emit):
                         t += "|| *Value* || *Meaning* ||\n"
                         for value in values:
                             v = value.split(':')
+                            if len(v) != 2:
+                                raise ValueError("Bad value (%s)" % v)
                             t += "|| " + v[0] + " || " + self.camelcase_escape(v[1]) + " ||\n"
                     elif field == 'Units':
                         abreviated_units = param.__dict__[field]
diff --git a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/xmlemit.py b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/xmlemit.py
index 8e8d0b642a..0ca747b34e 100644
--- a/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/xmlemit.py
+++ b/Tools/autotest/param_metadata/xmlemit.py
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ class XmlEmit(Emit):
                         values = (param.__dict__[field]).split(',')
                         for value in values:
                             v = value.split(':')
+                            if len(v) != 2:
+                                raise ValueError("Bad value (%s)" % v)
                             t += '''<value code=%s>%s</value>\n''' % (quoteattr(v[0]), escape(v[1]))  # i.e. numeric value, string label
 
                         t += "</values>\n"