diff --git a/edtf/fields.py b/edtf/fields.py
index 7dba5d4..9cf6b27 100644
--- a/edtf/fields.py
+++ b/edtf/fields.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import pickle
 
+from django.core import checks
 from django.core.exceptions import FieldDoesNotExist
 from django.db import models
 from django.db.models import signals
@@ -188,3 +189,44 @@ def contribute_to_class(self, cls, name, **kwargs):
         # Only run post-initialization values update on non-abstract models
         if not cls._meta.abstract:
             signals.post_init.connect(self.update_values, sender=cls)
+
+    def check(self, **kwargs):
+        errors = super().check(**kwargs)
+
+        for field_alias in [
+            "direct_input_field",
+            "lower_fuzzy_field",
+            "lower_strict_field",
+            "natural_text_field",
+            "upper_fuzzy_field",
+            "upper_strict_field",
+        ]:
+            errors.extend(self._check_field(field_alias))
+
+        return errors
+
+    def _check_field(self, field_alias):
+        field_name = getattr(self, field_alias, None)
+
+        # Check if the alias value has been provided in the field definition
+        if not field_name:
+            return [
+                checks.Error(
+                    f"You must specify a '{field_alias}' for EDTFField",
+                    hint=None,
+                    obj=self,
+                )
+            ]
+
+        # Check if the field that is referenced actually exists
+        try:
+            self.model._meta.get_field(field_name)
+        except FieldDoesNotExist:
+            return [
+                checks.Error(
+                    f"'{self.name}' refers to a non-existent '{field_alias}' field: '{field_name}'",
+                    hint=None,
+                    obj=self,
+                )
+            ]
+        return []
diff --git a/edtf_django_tests/edtf_integration/tests.py b/edtf_django_tests/edtf_integration/tests.py
index 493d0d2..da5bb83 100644
--- a/edtf_django_tests/edtf_integration/tests.py
+++ b/edtf_django_tests/edtf_integration/tests.py
@@ -122,3 +122,38 @@ def test_comparison(self):
             self.event2.date_edtf,
             "2019-11 is less than 2021-05-06",
         )
+
+    def test_field_related_field_specification(self):
+        edtf_field_on_model = TestEvent._meta.get_field("date_edtf")
+        required_fields = (
+            "direct_input_field",
+            "lower_fuzzy_field",
+            "lower_strict_field",
+            "natural_text_field",
+            "upper_fuzzy_field",
+            "upper_strict_field",
+        )
+        for field_alias in required_fields:
+            # Remove the alias from the edtf_field
+            orig_value = getattr(edtf_field_on_model, field_alias)
+            setattr(edtf_field_on_model, field_alias, None)
+            errors = edtf_field_on_model.check()
+            self.assertEqual(len(errors), 1)
+            self.assertTrue(field_alias in errors[0].msg)
+            # Replace the field so later tests can still work
+            setattr(edtf_field_on_model, field_alias, orig_value)
+
+            # TODO: this is not working yet
+            # # Remove the field from the model
+            # referenced_field_name = getattr(edtf_field_on_model, field_alias)
+            # orig_fields = TestEvent._meta.local_fields
+            # TestEvent._meta.local_fields = [  # type: ignore
+            #     field
+            #     for field in TestEvent._meta.local_fields
+            #     if field.name != referenced_field_name
+            # ]
+            # errors = TestEvent._meta.get_field("date_edtf").check()
+            # self.assertEqual(len(errors), 1)
+            # self.assertTrue(referenced_field_name in errors[0].msg)
+            # # Replace the field so later tests can still work
+            # TestEvent._meta.local_fields = orig_fields