diff --git a/Algorithm/QCAlgorithm.cs b/Algorithm/QCAlgorithm.cs
index f4e2c5241ac4..e8b8c9b4d871 100644
--- a/Algorithm/QCAlgorithm.cs
+++ b/Algorithm/QCAlgorithm.cs
@@ -2341,6 +2341,11 @@ public Option AddOptionContract(Symbol symbol, Resolution? resolution = null, bo
                 underlyingConfigs = SubscriptionManager.SubscriptionDataConfigService
                     .GetSubscriptionDataConfigs(underlying);
             }
+            else if (underlyingSecurity != null && underlyingSecurity.IsDelisted)
+            {
+                throw new ArgumentException($"The underlying {underlying.SecurityType} asset ({underlying.Value}) is delisted " +
+                    $"(current time is {Time})");
+            }
             else
             {
                 underlyingConfigs = SubscriptionManager.SubscriptionDataConfigService
diff --git a/Tests/Algorithm/AlgorithmAddDataTests.cs b/Tests/Algorithm/AlgorithmAddDataTests.cs
index 6c93b74db262..67c0c6214583 100644
--- a/Tests/Algorithm/AlgorithmAddDataTests.cs
+++ b/Tests/Algorithm/AlgorithmAddDataTests.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
-using Python.Runtime;
 using Newtonsoft.Json;
 using NodaTime;
 using NUnit.Framework;
@@ -645,6 +644,33 @@ public void DoesNotCauseCollision_WhenRegisteringMultipleDifferentCustomDataType
             Assert.AreNotSame(unlinkedData, bitcoin);
         }
 
+        [TestCase(SecurityType.Equity)]
+        [TestCase(SecurityType.Index)]
+        [TestCase(SecurityType.Future)]
+        public void AddOptionContractWithDelistedUnderlyingThrows(SecurityType underlyingSecurityType)
+        {
+            var algorithm = Algorithm();
+            algorithm.SetStartDate(2007, 05, 25);
+
+            Security underlying = underlyingSecurityType switch
+            {
+                SecurityType.Equity => algorithm.AddEquity("SPY"),
+                SecurityType.Index => algorithm.AddIndex("SPX"),
+                SecurityType.Future => algorithm.AddFuture("ES"),
+                _ => throw new ArgumentException($"Invalid test underlying security type {underlyingSecurityType}")
+            };
+
+            underlying.IsDelisted = true;
+            // let's remove the underlying since it's delisted
+            algorithm.RemoveSecurity(underlying.Symbol);
+
+            var optionContractSymbol = Symbol.CreateOption(underlying.Symbol, Market.USA, OptionStyle.American, OptionRight.Call, 100,
+                new DateTime(2007, 06, 15));
+
+            var exception = Assert.Throws<ArgumentException>(() => algorithm.AddOptionContract(optionContractSymbol));
+            Assert.IsTrue(exception.Message.Contains("is delisted"), $"Unexpected exception message: {exception.Message}");
+        }
+
         private static SubscriptionDataConfig GetMatchingSubscription(QCAlgorithm algorithm, Symbol symbol, Type type)
         {
             // find a subscription matchin the requested type with a higher resolution than requested