diff --git a/cgp_seq_input_val/manifest.py b/cgp_seq_input_val/manifest.py
index 0b17e51..ce87478 100644
--- a/cgp_seq_input_val/manifest.py
+++ b/cgp_seq_input_val/manifest.py
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ def _excel_to_tsv(self, ofh):
                                   formatting_info=False,
                                   on_demand=True,
                                   ragged_rows=True)
+        if 'For entry' not in book.sheet_names():
+            raise ParsingError('xls[x] workbooks require the data sheet to be named "For entry"')
+
         sheet = book.sheet_by_name('For entry')
         for r in range(0, sheet.nrows):
             simplerow = []
@@ -230,6 +233,10 @@ def __init__(self, manifest):
                 header_items[row[0]] = val
 
         # now load the ini based on 'Form type:' and 'Form version:'
+        if 'Form type:' not in header_items:
+            raise ParsingError('"Form type:" not found in header')
+        if 'Form version:' not in header_items:
+            raise ParsingError('"Form version:" not found in header')
         self.type = header_items['Form type:']
         self.version = header_items['Form version:']
         self.uuid = None
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7746631..fc92761 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     'url': 'https://github.com/cancerit/cgp_seq_input_val',
     'download_url': '',
     'author_email': 'cgphelp@sanger.ac.uk',
-    'version': '1.2.0',
+    'version': '1.2.1',
     'python_requires': '>= 3.4',
     'setup_requires': ['pytest'],
     'install_requires': ['progressbar2', 'xlrd'],