diff --git a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Distributions/SymbolicDist/SymbolicDist.res b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Distributions/SymbolicDist/SymbolicDist.res
index 92249eae..997506d9 100644
--- a/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Distributions/SymbolicDist/SymbolicDist.res
+++ b/packages/squiggle-lang/src/rescript/Distributions/SymbolicDist/SymbolicDist.res
@@ -86,9 +86,10 @@ module Exponential = {
 
 module Cauchy = {
   type t = cauchy
-  let make = (local, scale): result<symbolicDist, string> => Ok(
-    #Cauchy({local: local, scale: scale}),
-  )
+  let make = (local, scale): result<symbolicDist, string> =>
+    scale > 0.0
+      ? Ok(#Cauchy({local: local, scale: scale}))
+      : Error("Cauchy distribution scale parameter must larger than 0.")
   let pdf = (x, t: t) => Jstat.Cauchy.pdf(x, t.local, t.scale)
   let cdf = (x, t: t) => Jstat.Cauchy.cdf(x, t.local, t.scale)
   let inv = (p, t: t) => Jstat.Cauchy.inv(p, t.local, t.scale)