diff --git a/ogcore/default_parameters.json b/ogcore/default_parameters.json
index 8180be0ba..35f336f9c 100644
--- a/ogcore/default_parameters.json
+++ b/ogcore/default_parameters.json
@@ -2985,8 +2985,8 @@
         }
     },
     "baseline_spending": {
-        "title": "Flag to keep level of government spending and transfers constant between baseline and reform runs",
-        "description": "Flag to keep level of government spending and transfers constant between baseline and reform runs.",
+        "title": "Flag for use in reform simulations to keep level of government spending and transfers constant between baseline and reform runs",
+        "description": "Flag for use in reform simulations to keep level of government spending and transfers constant between baseline and reform runs.",
         "section_1": "Fiscal Policy Parameters",
         "section_2": "Spending",
         "notes": "",
diff --git a/ogcore/parameters.py b/ogcore/parameters.py
index 63245c48c..7e8166152 100644
--- a/ogcore/parameters.py
+++ b/ogcore/parameters.py
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ def compute_default_params(self):
             None
 
         '''
+        # Catch error if baseline_spending=True and baseline=True
+        if self.baseline_spending and self.baseline:
+            err_msg = (
+                'Parameter baseline_spending=True cannot coincide with ' +
+                'baseline=True.')
+            raise ValueError(err_msg)
+
         # reshape lambdas
         self.lambdas = self.lambdas.reshape(self.lambdas.shape[0], 1)
         # cast integers as integers
diff --git a/tests/test_SS.py b/tests/test_SS.py
index 2728d66ff..18c7abbc9 100644
--- a/tests/test_SS.py
+++ b/tests/test_SS.py
@@ -513,8 +513,9 @@ def test_run_SS(tmpdir, baseline, param_updates, filename, dask_client):
             baseline_dir=baseline_dir,
             baseline=True,
             num_workers=NUM_WORKERS)
-        p_base.update_specifications(param_updates)
-        p_base.baseline_spending = False
+        param_updates_base = param_updates.copy()
+        param_updates_base['baseline_spending'] = False
+        p_base.update_specifications(param_updates_base)
         base_ss_outputs = SS.run_SS(p_base, client=dask_client)
         utils.mkdirs(os.path.join(baseline_dir, "SS"))
         ss_dir = os.path.join(baseline_dir, "SS", "SS_vars.pkl")