diff --git a/lib/robot.js b/lib/robot.js
index 326a137..33b7410 100644
--- a/lib/robot.js
+++ b/lib/robot.js
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ var Robot = module.exports = function Robot(opts) {
   }, this);
 
   this.initRobot(opts);
+
+  this.checkForBadSyntax(opts);
+
   this.initConnections(opts);
   this.initDevices(opts);
 
@@ -153,6 +156,34 @@ Robot.prototype.initRobot = function(opts) {
   }
 };
 
+// Public: Checks options for bad Cylon syntax
+//
+// Returns nothing
+Robot.prototype.checkForBadSyntax = function(opts) {
+  var self = this;
+
+  var RobotDSLError = new Error("Unable to start robot due to a syntax error");
+  RobotDSLError.name = "RobotDSLError";
+
+  function has(prop) { return opts[prop] != null; }
+
+  function checkForSingleObjectSyntax(type) {
+    var plural = type + "s";
+
+    if (has(type) && !has(plural)) {
+      [
+        "The single-object '" + type + "' syntax for robots is not valid.",
+        "Instead, use the multiple-value '" + plural + "' key syntax.",
+        "Details: http://cylonjs.com/documentation/guides/working-with-robots/"
+      ].forEach(function(str) { self.log("fatal", str); });
+
+      throw RobotDSLError;
+    }
+  }
+
+  ["connection", "device"].forEach(checkForSingleObjectSyntax);
+};
+
 // Public: Initializes all connections for the robot
 //
 // opts - options array passed to constructor