diff --git a/src/main/java/com/example/example_mod/ExampleMod.java b/src/main/java/com/example/example_mod/ExampleMod.java
index b64b63c..2e402ea 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/example/example_mod/ExampleMod.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/example/example_mod/ExampleMod.java
@@ -11,8 +11,16 @@ public class ExampleMod implements ModInitializer {
 	// That way, it's clear which mod wrote info, warnings, and errors.
 	public static final Logger LOGGER = LoggerFactory.getLogger("Example Mod");
 
+	// A central place to house your mod ID. This should match the ID in your quilt.mod.json file.
+	public static final String MOD_ID = "example_mod";
+
 	@Override
 	public void onInitialize(ModContainer mod) {
+		// the following block validates that you've updated both the quilt.mod.json file and MOD_ID field when you change your mod ID. if you're familiar with making mods, feel free to remove this!
+		if (!mod.metadata().id().equals(MOD_ID)) {
+			throw new RuntimeException(String.format("Mod IDs in quilt.mod.json and MOD_ID field do not match! (quilt.mod.json: %s; MOD_ID: %s", mod.metadata().id(), MOD_ID));
+		}
+
 		LOGGER.info("Hello Quilt world from {}!", mod.metadata().name());
 	}
 }