diff --git a/src/emu/softlist.c b/src/emu/softlist.c
index a8579070be4..c417816066c 100644
--- a/src/emu/softlist.c
+++ b/src/emu/softlist.c
@@ -2000,6 +2000,8 @@ void validate_softlists(emu_options &options)
 								break;
 							}
 
+						softlist_map part_names;
+
 						for (software_part *swpart = software_find_part(swinfo, NULL, NULL); swpart != NULL; swpart = software_part_next(swpart))
 						{
 							if (swpart->interface_ == NULL)
@@ -2013,6 +2015,12 @@ void validate_softlists(emu_options &options)
 								mame_printf_error("%s: %s has a part (%s) with no data\n", list->file->filename(), swinfo->shortname, swpart->name);
 								error = TRUE;
 							}
+							
+							if (part_names.add(swpart->name, swinfo, FALSE) == TMERR_DUPLICATE)
+							{
+								mame_printf_error("%s: %s has a part (%s) whose name is duplicate\n", list->file->filename(), swinfo->shortname, swpart->name);
+								error = TRUE; 
+							}
 
 							for (struct rom_entry *swdata = software_find_romdata(swpart, NULL); swdata != NULL;  swdata = software_romdata_next(swdata))
 							{