diff --git a/export.py b/export.py
index 623844ff3531..9868fcae95c3 100644
--- a/export.py
+++ b/export.py
@@ -492,6 +492,8 @@ def run(
     # Checks
     imgsz *= 2 if len(imgsz) == 1 else 1  # expand
     assert nc == len(names), f'Model class count {nc} != len(names) {len(names)}'
+    if optimize:
+        assert device.type != 'cuda', '--optimize not compatible with cuda devices, i.e. use --device cpu'
 
     # Input
     gs = int(max(model.stride))  # grid size (max stride)