diff --git a/neuralfields/potential_based.py b/neuralfields/potential_based.py
index 02ceca5..d1a1330 100644
--- a/neuralfields/potential_based.py
+++ b/neuralfields/potential_based.py
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ def __init__(
 
         # Initialize the potential dynamics' time constant.
         self.tau_learnable = tau_learnable
+        if tau_init <= 0:
+            raise ValueError("The time constant tau must be initialized positive.")
         self._log_tau_init = torch.log(
             torch.as_tensor(tau_init, device=device, dtype=torch.get_default_dtype()).reshape(-1)
         )
@@ -98,6 +100,8 @@ def __init__(
 
         # Initialize the potential dynamics' cubic decay.
         self.kappa_learnable = kappa_learnable
+        if kappa_init <= 0:
+            raise ValueError("The cubic decay kappa must be initialized positive.")
         self._log_kappa_init = torch.log(
             torch.as_tensor(kappa_init, device=device, dtype=torch.get_default_dtype()).reshape(-1)
         )
diff --git a/tests/test_simple_neural_fields.py b/tests/test_simple_neural_fields.py
index 78ce218..657e1ba 100644
--- a/tests/test_simple_neural_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_simple_neural_fields.py
@@ -159,6 +159,12 @@ def test_simple_neural_fields_fail():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         SimpleNeuralField(input_size=6, output_size=3, potentials_dyn_fcn=pd_capacity_21, activation_nonlin=torch.sqrt)
 
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        SimpleNeuralField(input_size=6, output_size=3, potentials_dyn_fcn=pd_capacity_21, tau_init=0)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        SimpleNeuralField(input_size=6, output_size=3, potentials_dyn_fcn=pd_capacity_21, kappa_init=0)
+
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         pd_linear(
             p=torch.randn(3), s=torch.randn(3), h=torch.randn(3), tau=torch.tensor(-1.0), kappa=None, capacity=None