diff --git a/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl b/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
index 88992625..d2345ad5 100644
--- a/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
+++ b/SS_readcontrol_330.tpl
@@ -2374,16 +2374,16 @@
   //  SS_Label_Info_4.6.4 #Setup recruitment deviations and create parm labels for each year
   if (recdev_end > retro_yr)
   {
-    warnstream << " recdev_end: " << recdev_end << " > retro_yr: " << retro_yr << " reset ";
+    warnstream << " last main recdev: " << recdev_end << " to retro_yr: " << retro_yr << " reset ";
     write_message (ADJUST, 0);
     recdev_end = retro_yr;
   }
-  if (recdev_end < endyr && (Fcast_Loop_Control(3) == 3 || Fcast_Loop_Control(3) == 4))
-  {
-    warnstream << "Fcast recr option is 3 or 4 and recdev_end: " << recdev_end << " < endyr: " << endyr << " reset ";
-    write_message (ADJUST, 0);
-    recdev_end = endyr;
-  }
+//  if (recdev_end < endyr && (Fcast_Loop_Control(3) == 3 || Fcast_Loop_Control(3) == 4))
+//  {
+//    warnstream << "Fcast recr option is 3 or 4 and recdev_end: " << recdev_end << " < endyr: " << endyr << " reset ";
+//    write_message (ADJUST, 0);
+//    recdev_end = endyr;
+//  }
   if (recdev_start < (styr - nages))
   {
     warnstream << " recdev_start: " << recdev_start << " < styr-nages: " << styr - nages << " reset ";
@@ -2459,7 +2459,13 @@
       }
     }
   }
-  
+
+    if (int(Fcast_Loop_Control(3)) >= 4 && Fcast_Rec_yr2 > recdev_end)
+  {
+    warnstream << " last year of averaging for mean forecast recr must be <= last main recdev" << Fcast_Rec_yr2 << " > " << recdev_end;
+    write_message(FATAL, 1);
+  }
+
   if (Do_Forecast > 0)
   {
     if (do_recdev != 0) {
diff --git a/SS_readdata_330.tpl b/SS_readdata_330.tpl
index 0ba0045d..440fa3d5 100644
--- a/SS_readdata_330.tpl
+++ b/SS_readdata_330.tpl
@@ -4884,7 +4884,7 @@
     warnstream << " Error, Fcast_Rec_Yr2 must be between styr and endyr";
     write_message(FATAL, 1);
   }
-
+  // note:  one more check will occur after recdev_end is read
   did_MSY = 0;
   if (Do_Forecast > 0)
     *(ad_comm::global_datafile) >> fif;
diff --git a/SS_recruit.tpl b/SS_recruit.tpl
index eaf4c980..b718fed4 100644
--- a/SS_recruit.tpl
+++ b/SS_recruit.tpl
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ FUNCTION void apply_recdev(prevariable& NewRecruits, const prevariable& Recr_vir
       }
     }
   // note that if user requests "mean" as base forecast recr, then devs are still applied
-  // so, phase for forecast recdevs must be <0 to assure that forecast recr do not get added variability
+  // so, phase for forecast recdevs must be <0 if user wants forecast recr do not get added variability
     if (do_recdev > 0)
       NewRecruits *= mfexp(Fcast_recruitments(y)); //  recruitment deviation
   }