diff --git a/accounts/page/voucher_import_tool/voucher_import_tool.py b/accounts/page/voucher_import_tool/voucher_import_tool.py
index 1819e077055..2d7cd25fd1e 100644
--- a/accounts/page/voucher_import_tool/voucher_import_tool.py
+++ b/accounts/page/voucher_import_tool/voucher_import_tool.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import webnotes
-from webnotes.utils import flt
+from webnotes.utils import flt, comma_and
 
 @webnotes.whitelist()
 def get_template():
@@ -231,6 +231,14 @@ def get_data(rows, company_abbr):
 
 			if r[0]=="--------Data----------":
 				start_row = i+2
+				
+				# check for empty columns
+				empty_columns = [i+1 for i, c in enumerate(rows[i+1]) if not c]
+				if empty_columns:
+					raise Exception, """Column No(s). %s %s empty. \
+						Please remove them and try again.""" % (comma_and(empty_columns),
+						len(empty_columns)==1 and "is" or "are")
+				
 				columns = [c.replace(" ", "_").lower() for c in rows[i+1] 
 					if not c.endswith(" - " + company_abbr)]
 				accounts = [c for c in rows[i+1] if c.endswith(" - " + company_abbr)]