diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
index a08b6c8a..7c7097fd 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormat.java
@@ -199,6 +199,10 @@ public class CSVFormat implements Serializable {
         if (escape != null && escape == commentStart) {
             throw new IllegalStateException("The comment start and the escape character cannot be the same ('" + commentStart + "')");
         }
+
+        if (escape == null && quotePolicy == Quote.NONE) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("No quotes mode set but no escape character is set");
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatTest.java b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatTest.java
index b0ba045a..f6884c19 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/apache/commons/csv/CSVFormatTest.java
@@ -153,7 +153,14 @@ public class CSVFormatTest {
         } catch (final IllegalStateException e) {
             // expected
         }
-    }
+
+        try {
+            format.withQuoteChar('!').withQuotePolicy(Quote.NONE).validate();
+            fail();
+        } catch (final IllegalStateException e) {
+            // expected
+        }
+}
 
     @SuppressWarnings("boxing") // no need to worry about boxing here
     @Test