diff --git a/core/include/Variable/VariableModel.h b/core/include/Variable/VariableModel.h
index 2e891ee..adbcd1d 100644
--- a/core/include/Variable/VariableModel.h
+++ b/core/include/Variable/VariableModel.h
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ public:
     void addVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) noexcept;
 
     /**
+     * Checks that a variable is contained in the model
+     * @param variable the variable to check
+     * @return true if the variable is in the model, false otherwise
+     */
+    bool containsVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) const noexcept;
+
+    /**
      * Creates a new variable in the model
      * @param name the name of the new variable
      * @param dateTime the dateTime of the new variable
diff --git a/core/src/Variable/VariableController.cpp b/core/src/Variable/VariableController.cpp
index 5951f28..f639a57 100644
--- a/core/src/Variable/VariableController.cpp
+++ b/core/src/Variable/VariableController.cpp
@@ -191,13 +191,21 @@ void VariableController::setTimeController(TimeController *timeController) noexc
 std::shared_ptr<Variable>
 VariableController::cloneVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) noexcept
 {
-    // Clones variable
-    auto duplicate = variable->clone();
+    if (impl->m_VariableModel->containsVariable(variable)) {
+        // Clones variable
+        auto duplicate = variable->clone();
 
-    // Adds clone to model
-    impl->m_VariableModel->addVariable(duplicate);
+        // Adds clone to model
+        impl->m_VariableModel->addVariable(duplicate);
 
-    return duplicate;
+        return duplicate;
+    }
+    else {
+        qCCritical(LOG_VariableController())
+            << tr("Can't create duplicate of variable %1: variable not registered in the model")
+                   .arg(variable->name());
+        return nullptr;
+    }
 }
 
 void VariableController::deleteVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) noexcept
diff --git a/core/src/Variable/VariableModel.cpp b/core/src/Variable/VariableModel.cpp
index 1ba3792..ad88e27 100644
--- a/core/src/Variable/VariableModel.cpp
+++ b/core/src/Variable/VariableModel.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,12 @@ void VariableModel::addVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) noexcept
     endInsertRows();
 }
 
+bool VariableModel::containsVariable(std::shared_ptr<Variable> variable) const noexcept
+{
+    auto end = impl->m_Variables.cend();
+    return std::find(impl->m_Variables.cbegin(), end, variable) != end;
+}
+
 std::shared_ptr<Variable> VariableModel::createVariable(const QString &name,
                                                         const SqpRange &dateTime,
                                                         const QVariantHash &metadata) noexcept