diff --git a/python/mujoco/codegen/generate_spec_bindings.py b/python/mujoco/codegen/generate_spec_bindings.py
index 4dd24eea..5e0d68ae 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/codegen/generate_spec_bindings.py
+++ b/python/mujoco/codegen/generate_spec_bindings.py
@@ -841,7 +841,9 @@ def generate_add() -> None:
           code += """\n
           auto set_name = [](raw::MjsElement* el, const std::optional<std::string>& name) {
             if (name.has_value()) {
-              mjs_setName(el, name->c_str());
+              if (mjs_setName(el, name->c_str())) {
+                throw pybind11::value_error(mjs_getError(mjs_getSpec(el)));
+              }
             }
           };
           """
diff --git a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
index 0d25c838..c5976e3b 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
+++ b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
@@ -970,6 +970,26 @@ class SpecsTest(absltest.TestCase):
     ):
       spec.add_material().name = 'yellow'
 
+  def test_duplicate_name_error_when_adding_specs_with_kwargs(self):
+    spec = mujoco.MjSpec()
+    body = spec.worldbody.add_body(name='body')
+    body.add_geom(
+        type=mujoco.mjtGeom.mjGEOM_BOX, size=[0.1, 1, 1], name='dup'
+    )
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(
+        ValueError, "Error: repeated name 'dup' in geom"
+    ):
+      body.add_geom(
+          type=mujoco.mjtGeom.mjGEOM_BOX, size=[1, 0.1, 1], name='dup'
+      )
+
+    spec2 = mujoco.MjSpec()
+    spec2.add_material(name='yellow')
+    with self.assertRaisesRegex(
+        ValueError, "Error: repeated name 'yellow' in material"
+    ):
+      spec2.add_material(name='yellow')
+
   def test_delete_unused_plugin(self):
     spec = mujoco.MjSpec.from_string("""
       <mujoco model="MuJoCo Model">