diff --git a/libsolidity/interface/StandardCompiler.cpp b/libsolidity/interface/StandardCompiler.cpp
index 137a4439a..606e858c6 100644
--- a/libsolidity/interface/StandardCompiler.cpp
+++ b/libsolidity/interface/StandardCompiler.cpp
@@ -298,6 +298,8 @@ boost::optional<Json::Value> checkOptimizerKeys(Json::Value const& _input)
 
 boost::optional<Json::Value> checkMetadataKeys(Json::Value const& _input)
 {
+	if (_input.isObject() && _input.isMember("useLiteralContent") && !_input["useLiteralContent"].isBool())
+		return formatFatalError("JSONError", "\"settings.metadata.useLiteralContent\" must be Boolean");
 	static set<string> keys{"useLiteralContent"};
 	return checkKeys(_input, keys, "settings.metadata");
 }
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/exit b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/exit
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..573541ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/exit
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/input.json b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/input.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8627a282a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/input.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+	"language": "Solidity",
+	"sources":
+	{
+		"A":
+		{
+			"content": "pragma solidity >=0.0; contract C { function f() public pure {} }"
+		}
+	},
+	"settings":
+	{
+		"optimizer": {
+			"enabled": true,
+			"runs": 200
+		},
+		"evmVersion": "byzantium",
+		"metadata": {}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/output.json b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/output.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..14c325725
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_missing_key_useLiteralContent/output.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"sources":{"A":{"id":0}}}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/exit b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/exit
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..573541ac9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/exit
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/input.json b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/input.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..be4272b6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/input.json
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+{
+	"language": "Solidity",
+	"sources":
+	{
+		"A":
+		{
+			"content": "pragma solidity >=0.0; contract C { function f() public pure {} }"
+		}
+	},
+	"settings":
+	{
+		"optimizer": {
+			"enabled": true,
+			"runs": 200
+		},
+		"evmVersion": "byzantium",
+		"metadata": {
+			"useLiteralContent": "literalContent"
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/output.json b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/output.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..47eb32ec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cmdlineTests/standard_wrong_type_useLiteralContent/output.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"errors":[{"component":"general","formattedMessage":"\"settings.metadata.useLiteralContent\" must be Boolean","message":"\"settings.metadata.useLiteralContent\" must be Boolean","severity":"error","type":"JSONError"}]}