diff --git a/docs/src/examples/tuning_from_data.md b/docs/src/examples/tuning_from_data.md
index 08530d6c8..3ac4c2a91 100644
--- a/docs/src/examples/tuning_from_data.md
+++ b/docs/src/examples/tuning_from_data.md
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ gangoffourplot(P, CF)
 
 The gang of four indicates that we have a robust tuning, no uncomfortably large peaks appears in either ``T`` or ``S``.
 
-Below, we attempt a pole-placement design for comparison. Contrary to the PID controller, a pole-placement controller _can_ place all poles of this system arbitrarily (the system is _controllable_, which can be verified using the function [`controllability`](@ref)).
+Below, we attempt a pole-placement design for comparison. Contrary to the PID controller, a state-feedback controller designed using pole placement _can_ place all poles of this system arbitrarily (the system is _controllable_, which can be verified using the function [`controllability`](@ref)).
 
 
 ## Pole placement
diff --git a/lib/ControlSystemsBase/src/matrix_comps.jl b/lib/ControlSystemsBase/src/matrix_comps.jl
index b734b3750..c9b67f286 100644
--- a/lib/ControlSystemsBase/src/matrix_comps.jl
+++ b/lib/ControlSystemsBase/src/matrix_comps.jl
@@ -635,6 +635,11 @@ function baltrunc(sys::ST; atol = sqrt(eps()), rtol = 1e-3, n = nothing, residua
         S = S[S .>= S[1]*rtol]
         n = length(S)
     else
+        n > sys.nx && error("n too large. A state dimension of n = $n was requested, but the original system has a $(sys.nx)-dimensional state.")
+        if length(S) < n
+            @error("n too large. A state dimension of n = $n was requested, but after a balanced realization was computed only $(length(S)) dimensions remain. Try either calling `minreal` before calling `baltrunc`, or try balancing the model using `balance_statespace`. Returning a system with n = $(length(S))")
+            n = length(S)
+        end
         S = S[1:n]
     end
     i1 = 1:n