diff --git a/app/models/conference.rb b/app/models/conference.rb
index 8e658759..f3565814 100644
--- a/app/models/conference.rb
+++ b/app/models/conference.rb
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ class Conference < ActiveRecord::Base
 
   validates_uniqueness_of :short_title
   validates_format_of :short_title, with: /\A[a-zA-Z0-9_-]*\z/
+
+  # This validation is needed since a conference with a start date greater than the end date is not possible
+  validate :valid_date_range?
   before_create :generate_guid
   before_create :create_event_types
   before_create :create_difficulty_levels
@@ -583,6 +586,14 @@ class Conference < ActiveRecord::Base
     self.create_contact
   end
 
+  ##
+  # Checks if start date of the conference is greater than the end date
+  #
+  # Reports an error when such a condition is found
+  def valid_date_range?
+    errors.add(:start_date, "Start date is greater than End date") if start_date > end_date
+  end
+
   ##
   # Calculates the weeks from a start and a end week.
   #
diff --git a/spec/models/conference_spec.rb b/spec/models/conference_spec.rb
index a0a5576e..d5ffcbca 100755
--- a/spec/models/conference_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/conference_spec.rb
@@ -1516,6 +1516,13 @@ describe Conference do
       should_not allow_value('&%§!?äÄüÜ/()').for(:short_title)
     end
 
+    describe 'valid_date_range?' do
+
+      it 'is not valid if start date is greater than end date' do
+        expect(subject.start_date).to be <= subject.end_date
+      end
+    end
+
     describe 'before create callbacks' do
 
       it 'has an email setting after creation' do