--- GObject.xs	23 Jun 2008 09:08:35 +1000	1.75
+++ GObject.xs	14 Jul 2008 18:29:29 +1000	
@@ -1108,6 +1108,9 @@
 	if (G_TYPE_IS_ABSTRACT (object_type))
 		croak ("cannot create instance of abstract (non-instantiatable)"
 		       " type `%s'", g_type_name (object_type));
+	if (0 != ((items - 1) % 2))
+		croak ("new method expects name => value pairs "
+		       "(odd number of arguments detected)");
 	if (items > FIRST_ARG) {
 		int i;
 		if (NULL == (oclass = g_type_class_ref (object_type)))