diff --git a/src/transformers/visitors/checks/unsupportedVisitor.ts b/src/transformers/visitors/checks/unsupportedVisitor.ts
index a36de160f..99a99a688 100644
--- a/src/transformers/visitors/checks/unsupportedVisitor.ts
+++ b/src/transformers/visitors/checks/unsupportedVisitor.ts
@@ -78,4 +78,14 @@ export default {
         );
     },
   },
+
+  VariableDeclaration: {
+    enter(node: any) {
+      if (node.name.startsWith('_'))
+        throw new ZKPError(
+          `Zokrates does not support variables that begin with an underscore such as as _value.`,
+          node
+        );
+    },
+  },
 };