diff --git a/metric_learn/scml.py b/metric_learn/scml.py
index 199dfc40..db2fdf64 100644
--- a/metric_learn/scml.py
+++ b/metric_learn/scml.py
@@ -240,6 +240,12 @@ def _generate_bases_dist_diff(self, triplets, X):
       raise ValueError("n_basis should be an integer, instead it is of type %s"
                        % type(self.n_basis))
 
+    if n_features > n_triplets:
+      raise ValueError(
+        "Number of features (%s) is greater than the number of triplets(%s).\n"
+        "Consider using dimensionality reduction or using another basis "
+        "generation scheme." % (n_features, n_triplets))
+
     basis = np.zeros((n_basis, n_features))
 
     # get all positive and negative pairs with lowest index first
diff --git a/test/test_triplets_classifiers.py b/test/test_triplets_classifiers.py
index f2d5c015..515a0a33 100644
--- a/test/test_triplets_classifiers.py
+++ b/test/test_triplets_classifiers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,12 @@
 from sklearn.exceptions import NotFittedError
 from sklearn.model_selection import train_test_split
 
-from test.test_utils import triplets_learners, ids_triplets_learners
+from metric_learn import SCML
+from test.test_utils import (
+  triplets_learners,
+  ids_triplets_learners,
+  build_triplets
+)
 from metric_learn.sklearn_shims import set_random_state
 from sklearn import clone
 import numpy as np
@@ -107,3 +112,16 @@ def test_accuracy_toy_example(estimator, build_dataset):
   # we force the transformation to be identity so that we control what it does
   estimator.components_ = np.eye(X.shape[1])
   assert estimator.score(triplets_test) == 0.25
+
+
+def test_raise_big_number_of_features():
+  triplets, _, _, X = build_triplets(with_preprocessor=False)
+  triplets = triplets[:3, :, :]
+  estimator = SCML(n_basis=320)
+  set_random_state(estimator)
+  with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc_info:
+    estimator.fit(triplets)
+  assert exc_info.value.args[0] == \
+         "Number of features (4) is greater than the number of triplets(3)." \
+         "\nConsider using dimensionality reduction or using another basis " \
+         "generation scheme."