diff --git a/lib/contracts/deploy.js b/lib/contracts/deploy.js
index d14deab78..4e6eab711 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/deploy.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/deploy.js
@@ -66,6 +66,15 @@ class Deploy {
     realArgs = self.determineArguments(params || contract.args);
 
     if (contract.address !== undefined) {
+      try {
+        this.web3.utils.toChecksumAddress(contract.address);
+      } catch(e) {
+        self.logger.error("error deploying " + contract.className);
+        self.logger.error(e.message);
+        contract.error = e.message;
+        self.events.emit('contractsState', self.contractsManager.contractsState());
+        return callback(e.message);
+      }
       contract.deployedAddress = contract.address;
       if (this.deployTracker) {
         self.deployTracker.trackContract(contract.className, contract.realRuntimeBytecode, realArgs, contract.address);