diff --git a/src/openfermion/chem/reduced_hamiltonian.py b/src/openfermion/chem/reduced_hamiltonian.py
index 98a58d1ef..42c993b4d 100644
--- a/src/openfermion/chem/reduced_hamiltonian.py
+++ b/src/openfermion/chem/reduced_hamiltonian.py
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 def make_reduced_hamiltonian(
     molecular_hamiltonian: InteractionOperator, n_electrons: int
 ) -> InteractionOperator:
+    if n_electrons < 2:
+        raise ValueError(
+            'n_electrons must be at least 2 to avoid division by zero.'
+        )
     r"""
     Construct the reduced Hamiltonian.
 
diff --git a/src/openfermion/linalg/rdm_reconstruction.py b/src/openfermion/linalg/rdm_reconstruction.py
index 6bd01cc04..3b7819524 100644
--- a/src/openfermion/linalg/rdm_reconstruction.py
+++ b/src/openfermion/linalg/rdm_reconstruction.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@ def valdemoro_reconstruction(tpdm, n_electrons):
     Returns:
         six-tensor reprsenting the three-RDM
     """
+    if n_electrons < 2:
+        raise ValueError(
+            'n_electrons must be at least 2 to avoid division by zero.'
+        )
     opdm = (2 / (n_electrons - 1)) * np.einsum('ijjk', tpdm)
     unconnected_tpdm = wedge(opdm, opdm, (1, 1), (1, 1))
     unconnected_d3 = wedge(opdm, unconnected_tpdm, (1, 1), (2, 2))