diff --git a/app/controllers/avo/associations_controller.rb b/app/controllers/avo/associations_controller.rb
index 7b6a74e6c..467f09e46 100644
--- a/app/controllers/avo/associations_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/avo/associations_controller.rb
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ def destroy
 
     def set_reflection
       @reflection = @record.class.reflect_on_association(association_from_params)
+
+      # Ensure inverse_of is present on STI
+      if !@record.class.descends_from_active_record? && @reflection.inverse_of.blank? && Rails.env.development?
+        raise "Avo relies on the 'inverse_of' option to establish the inverse association and perform some specific logic.\n" \
+          "Please configure the 'inverse_of' option for the '#{@reflection.macro} :#{@reflection.name}' association " \
+          "in the '#{@reflection.active_record.name}' model."
+      end
     end
 
     def set_attachment_class