diff --git a/precheck/precheck.py b/precheck/precheck.py
index 3e5cf13..366d3bc 100644
--- a/precheck/precheck.py
+++ b/precheck/precheck.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import time
 import traceback
 import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 
+import gdstk
 import klayout.db as pya
 import klayout.rdb as rdb
 from klayout_tools import parse_lyp_layers
@@ -25,6 +26,13 @@ class PrecheckFailure(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+def has_sky130_devices(gds: str):
+    for cell_name in gdstk.read_rawcells(gds):
+        if cell_name.startswith("sky130_fd_"):
+            return True
+    return False
+
+
 def magic_drc(gds: str, toplevel: str):
     logging.info(f"Running magic DRC on {gds} (module={toplevel})")
 
@@ -45,6 +53,8 @@ def magic_drc(gds: str, toplevel: str):
     )
 
     if magic.returncode != 0:
+        if not has_sky130_devices(gds):
+            logging.warning("No sky130 devices present - was the design flattened?")
         raise PrecheckFailure("Magic DRC failed")
 
 
diff --git a/precheck/requirements.txt b/precheck/requirements.txt
index 8ec6d50..49b91b5 100644
--- a/precheck/requirements.txt
+++ b/precheck/requirements.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 klayout==0.28.12
+gdstk==0.9.50
 pytest==7.4.3