diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2ef6533..7abb3ab 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ These keywords allow to define minimum/maximum constraints when the format keywo
 
 These keywords apply only to strings. If the data is not a string, the validation succeeds.
 
-The value of keyword `formatMaximum` (`formatMinimum`) should be a string. This value is the maximum (minimum) allowed value for the data to be valid as determined by `format` keyword.
+The value of keyword `formatMaximum` (`formatMinimum`) should be a string. This value is the maximum (minimum) allowed value for the data to be valid as determined by `format` keyword. If `format` is not present schema compilation will throw exception.
 
 When this keyword is added, it defines comparison rules for formats `"date"`, `"time"` and `"date-time"`. Custom formats also can have comparison rules. See [addFormat](https://github.com/epoberezkin/ajv#api-addformat) method.
 
diff --git a/keywords/_formatLimit.js b/keywords/_formatLimit.js
index 2ae8e00..650f84f 100644
--- a/keywords/_formatLimit.js
+++ b/keywords/_formatLimit.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ module.exports = function (minMax) {
       inline: require('./dotjs/_formatLimit'),
       statements: true,
       errors: 'full',
+      dependencies: ['format'],
       metaSchema: {
         anyOf: [
           { type: 'string' },
diff --git a/spec/formatLimit.spec.js b/spec/formatLimit.spec.js
index 3ba02b6..1629211 100644
--- a/spec/formatLimit.spec.js
+++ b/spec/formatLimit.spec.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 var Ajv = require('ajv');
 var defFunc = require('../keywords/formatMaximum');
 var defineKeywords = require('..');
-require('chai').should();
+var should = require('chai').should();
 
 
 describe('keywords "formatMinimum" and "formatMaximum"', function() {
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ describe('keywords "formatMinimum" and "formatMaximum"', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  ajvs.forEach(function (ajv, i) {
+    it('should throw when "format" is absent #' + i, function() {
+      should.throw(function() {
+        ajv.compile({ formatMaximum: '2015-08-01' });
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   function getAjv(format) {
     return new Ajv({ allErrors: true, format: format });
   }