diff --git a/src/vt/runtime/runtime.cc b/src/vt/runtime/runtime.cc
index 260df07f6f..efec9f3c64 100644
--- a/src/vt/runtime/runtime.cc
+++ b/src/vt/runtime/runtime.cc
@@ -413,6 +413,7 @@ void Runtime::printStartupBanner() {
     if (ArgType::vt_lb) {
       auto f9 = warn_cr("--vt_lb", "lblite");
       fmt::print("{}\t{}{}", vt_pre, f9, reset);
+      vtAbort("Load balancing enabled with --vt_lb, but disabled at compile time");
     }
     if (ArgType::vt_lb_stats) {
       auto f9 = warn_cr("--vt_lb_stats", "lblite");
@@ -710,6 +711,12 @@ void Runtime::printStartupBanner() {
 
   //fmt::print("{}\n", reset);
   fmt::print(reset);
+
+  // Enqueue a check for later in case arguments are modified before work
+  // actually executes
+  theSched->enqueue([this]{
+    this->checkForArgumentErrors();
+  });
 }
 
 void Runtime::printShutdownBanner(term::TermCounterType const& num_units) {
@@ -730,6 +737,14 @@ void Runtime::printShutdownBanner(term::TermCounterType const& num_units) {
   fmt::print("{}{}{}\n", vt_pre, f1, reset);
 }
 
+void Runtime::checkForArgumentErrors() {
+  #if !backend_check_enabled(lblite)
+    if (ArgType::vt_lb) {
+      vtAbort("Load balancing enabled with --vt_lb, but disabled at compile time");
+    }
+  #endif
+}
+
 bool Runtime::initialize(bool const force_now) {
   if (force_now) {
     initializeContext(user_argc_, user_argv_, communicator_);
diff --git a/src/vt/runtime/runtime.h b/src/vt/runtime/runtime.h
index c2690ae1b7..22e2ad92de 100644
--- a/src/vt/runtime/runtime.h
+++ b/src/vt/runtime/runtime.h
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ struct Runtime {
 
   void systemSync() { sync(); }
 
+public:
+  void checkForArgumentErrors();
+
 private:
   RuntimeInstType const instance_;