diff --git a/scabha/validate.py b/scabha/validate.py
index e195e2c9..16f4a043 100644
--- a/scabha/validate.py
+++ b/scabha/validate.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import os.path
 import yaml
 import re
-import typing
+import keyword
 from typing import *
 from collections import OrderedDict
 
@@ -176,9 +176,15 @@ def validate_parameters(params: Dict[str, Any], schemas: Dict[str, Any],
         value = inputs.get(name, UNSET)
         if value is not UNSET:
             # sanitize name: dataclass won't take hyphens or periods
-            fldname = re.sub("\W", "_", name)
-            while fldname in field2name:
-                fldname += "_"
+            fldname = orig_fldname = re.sub("\\W", "_", name)
+            # avoid Python keywords and clashes with other field names by adding _x as needed
+            num = 0
+            while keyword.iskeyword(fldname) or \
+                    (hasattr(keyword, 'issoftkeyword') and keyword.issoftkeyword(fldname)) or \
+                    fldname in field2name:
+                fldname += f"{orig_fldname}_{num}"
+                num += 1
+            # add to mapping
             field2name[fldname] = name
             name2field[name] = fldname
 
diff --git a/tests/stimela_tests/test_recipe.yml b/tests/stimela_tests/test_recipe.yml
index e58a4072..67e2c58a 100644
--- a/tests/stimela_tests/test_recipe.yml
+++ b/tests/stimela_tests/test_recipe.yml
@@ -102,6 +102,12 @@ recipe:
     elemlist-xyz:
       dtype: Union[str, List[str]]
       element_choices: [x,y,z]
+    elemlist_xyz:
+      default: "deliberate use of _ vs - to check validate() avoiding this situation"
+    continue:
+      default: "deliberate use of Python keyword to make sure validate() doesn't barf"
+    with:
+      default: "deliberate use of Python keyword to make sure validate() doesn't barf"
 
 
   assign: