diff --git a/models/AbstractModel.py b/models/AbstractModel.py
index c422aed..0782c5c 100644
--- a/models/AbstractModel.py
+++ b/models/AbstractModel.py
@@ -96,5 +96,13 @@ class AbstractModel:
                 raise ValueError(err_msg)
 
             if "tau" in k and params[k] < 0.0000001:
-                warn("Time constants cannot be negative ot smaller than 0.0001ms setting " + str(k) + " to 0.5ms")
+                warn("Time constants cannot be negative or smaller than 0.0001ms setting " + str(k) + " to 0.5ms")
                 params[k] = 0.00005
+
+            if k == "refractory_period" and params[k] < 0:
+                warn("negative refractory period makes no sense. Setting " + str(k) + " to 0ms")
+                params[k] = 0
+
+            if k == "noise_strength" and params[k] < 0:
+                warn("negative noise strength makes no sense. Setting " + str(k) + " to 0ms")
+                params[k] = 0