@@ -304,11 +304,18 @@ void Cell::import_properties_hdf5(hid_t group)
   vector<double> temps;
   read_dataset(cell_group, "temperature", temps);
 
+  // Ensure number of temperatures makes sense
+  auto n_temps = temps.size();
+  if (n_temps > 1 && n_temps != n_instances_) {
+    throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format(
+      "Number of temperatures for cell {} doesn't match number of instances", id_));
+  }
+
   // Modify temperatures for the cell
-  sqrtkT_.resize(0);
-  sqrtkT_.reserve(temps.size());
-  for (auto T : temps) {
-    sqrtkT_.push_back(std::sqrt(K_BOLTZMANN * T));
+  sqrtkT_.clear();
+  sqrtkT_.resize(temps.size());
+  for (gsl::index i = 0; i < temps.size(); ++i) {
+    this->set_temperature(temps[i], i);
   }
 
   close_group(cell_group);
 
@@ -221,8 +221,13 @@ extern "C" int openmc_properties_import(const char* filename)
 
   // Read cell properties
   auto cells_group = open_group(geom_group, "cells");
-  for (const auto& c : model::cells) {
-    c->import_properties_hdf5(cells_group);
+  try {
+    for (const auto& c : model::cells) {
+      c->import_properties_hdf5(cells_group);
+    }
+  } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+    set_errmsg(e.what());
+    return OPENMC_E_UNASSIGNED;
   }
   close_group(cells_group);
   close_group(geom_group);