diff --git a/src/utils/monero_utils.cpp b/src/utils/monero_utils.cpp
index 5c82e78..f31e21f 100644
--- a/src/utils/monero_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/monero_utils.cpp
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@
 #include "rpc/core_rpc_server_commands_defs.h"
 #include "storages/portable_storage_template_helper.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/cryptonote_format_utils.h"
+#include "mnemonics/electrum-words.h"
+#include "mnemonics/english.h"
 #include "string_tools.h"
 
 using namespace cryptonote;
@@ -230,8 +232,19 @@ void monero_utils::deserialize(const std::string& json, boost::property_tree::pt
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-// TODO: this is unused
+bool monero_utils::is_valid_language(const std::string& language) {
+  std::vector<std::string> languages;
+  crypto::ElectrumWords::get_language_list(languages, false);
+  std::vector<std::string>::iterator it = std::find(languages.begin(), languages.end(), language);
+  if (it == languages.end()) {
+    crypto::ElectrumWords::get_language_list(languages, true);
+    it = std::find(languages.begin(), languages.end(), language);
+  }
+  if (it == languages.end()) return false;
+  return true;
+}
 
+// TODO: this is unused
 std::shared_ptr<monero_block> monero_utils::cn_block_to_block(const cryptonote::block& cn_block) {
   cryptonote::block temp = cn_block;
   std::cout << cryptonote::obj_to_json_str(temp) << std::endl;
diff --git a/src/utils/monero_utils.h b/src/utils/monero_utils.h
index 1c806d7..d52f737 100644
--- a/src/utils/monero_utils.h
+++ b/src/utils/monero_utils.h
@@ -119,7 +119,13 @@ namespace monero_utils
 
   // --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-  void deserialize(const std::string& json, boost::property_tree::ptree& root);
+  /**
+   * Indicates if the given language is valid.
+   *
+   * @param language is the language to validate
+   * @return true if the language is valid, false otherwise
+   */
+  bool is_valid_language(const std::string& language);
 
   /**
    * Convert a Monero Core cryptonote::block to a block in this library's native model.
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.cpp b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.cpp
index a9c0745..46ebe5e 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.cpp
@@ -853,6 +853,7 @@ namespace monero {
 
   monero_wallet_core* monero_wallet_core::create_wallet_random(const std::string& path, const std::string& password, const monero_network_type network_type, const monero_rpc_connection& daemon_connection, const std::string& language, std::unique_ptr<epee::net_utils::http::http_client_factory> http_client_factory) {
     MTRACE("create_wallet_random(...)");
+    if (!monero_utils::is_valid_language(language)) throw std::runtime_error("Unknown language: " + language);
     monero_wallet_core* wallet = new monero_wallet_core();
     if (http_client_factory == nullptr) wallet->m_w2 = std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>(new tools::wallet2(static_cast<cryptonote::network_type>(network_type), 1, true));
     else wallet->m_w2 = std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>(new tools::wallet2(static_cast<cryptonote::network_type>(network_type), 1, true, std::move(http_client_factory)));
@@ -936,6 +937,9 @@ namespace monero {
       if (info.address.m_view_public_key != pkey) throw std::runtime_error("view key does not match address");
     }
 
+    // validate language
+    if (!monero_utils::is_valid_language(language)) throw std::runtime_error("Unknown language: " + language);
+
     // initialize wallet
     if (http_client_factory == nullptr) wallet->m_w2 = std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>(new tools::wallet2(static_cast<cryptonote::network_type>(network_type), 1, true));
     else wallet->m_w2 = std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>(new tools::wallet2(static_cast<cryptonote::network_type>(network_type), 1, true, std::move(http_client_factory)));
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
index 472de0a..2f76e68 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ namespace monero {
 
   monero_wallet_keys* monero_wallet_keys::create_wallet_random(const monero_network_type network_type, const std::string& language) {
 
+    // validate language
+    if (!monero_utils::is_valid_language(language)) throw std::runtime_error("Unknown language: " + language);
+
     // initialize random wallet account
     monero_wallet_keys* wallet = new monero_wallet_keys();
     crypto::secret_key spend_key_sk = wallet->m_account.generate();
@@ -166,6 +169,9 @@ namespace monero {
       if (info.address.m_view_public_key != pkey) throw std::runtime_error("view key does not match address");
     }
 
+    // validate language
+    if (!monero_utils::is_valid_language(language)) throw std::runtime_error("Unknown language: " + language);
+
     // initialize wallet account
     monero_wallet_keys* wallet = new monero_wallet_keys();
     if (has_spend_key && has_view_key) {
@@ -194,7 +200,7 @@ namespace monero {
 
   std::vector<std::string> monero_wallet_keys::get_mnemonic_languages() {
     std::vector<std::string> languages;
-    crypto::ElectrumWords::get_language_list(languages, true);
+    crypto::ElectrumWords::get_language_list(languages, true);  // TODO: support getting names in language
     return languages;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
index 9d15142..52d3167 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ namespace monero {
      * @param network_type is the wallet's network type (default = monero_network_type.MAINNET)
      * @param language is the wallet and mnemonic's language (default = "English")
      */
-    static monero_wallet_keys* create_wallet_random(const monero_network_type network_type, const std::string& language);
+    static monero_wallet_keys* create_wallet_random(const monero_network_type network_type, const std::string& language = "English");
 
     /**
      * Create a wallet from an existing mnemonic phrase.