diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index 57c11cd..0ab760e 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -51,10 +51,14 @@ class lcdMenu:
     
     
     def show_selection(self):
-        # a check:
-        # if you scrolling vertically, I found no elegant way to hide the name (there just need's to be something up there!)
+        # some checks:
+        # 1. if you scrolling vertically, I found no elegant way to hide the name (there just need's to be something up there!)
         if self.scroll_direction and self.hide_menu_name:
             raise TypeError("Hiding the menu name whilst having the scroll direction set to horizontal!")
+        # 2. if there are no menu items to display...
+        if len(self.menu_items) == 0:
+            raise TypeError("Can't show empty menus! Maybe you forgot calling self.setup() after initializing me?")
+
         
         # get some often used values into local variables
         selection_name = self.menu_items[self.current_selection][0]
diff --git a/example_simple.py b/example_simple.py
index b182061..d1b2e32 100644
--- a/example_simple.py
+++ b/example_simple.py
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ menuItems = [("first item", first_callback),
              ("third item", third_cb)]
 menu = lcdMenu(LCD, {"prev_btn":prev_btn, "next_btn": next_btn, "ok_btn": ok_btn}, menuItems, scroll_direction=False, cycle=False, hide_menu_name=True, name="Fullscreen!")
 
-menu.run()
\ No newline at end of file
+menu.run()