diff --git a/docs/latex/wx/listbox.tex b/docs/latex/wx/listbox.tex
index 0d8465cb80..c7707cb4aa 100644
--- a/docs/latex/wx/listbox.tex
+++ b/docs/latex/wx/listbox.tex
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ select multiple items using the SHIFT key and the mouse or special key combinati
 \twocolitem{\windowstyle{wxLB\_SORT}}{The listbox contents are sorted in alphabetical order.}
 \end{twocollist}
 
+Note that {\tt wxLB\_SINGLE}, {\tt wxLB\_MULTIPLE} and {\tt wxLB\_EXTENDED}
+styles are mutually exclusive and you can specify at most one of them (single
+selection is the default).
+
 See also \helpref{window styles overview}{windowstyles}.
 
 \wxheading{Event handling}
diff --git a/src/msw/listbox.cpp b/src/msw/listbox.cpp
index 19a8753d28..a2175877e7 100644
--- a/src/msw/listbox.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/listbox.cpp
@@ -157,6 +157,10 @@ bool wxListBox::Create(wxWindow *parent,
 
     DWORD wstyle = WS_VISIBLE | WS_VSCROLL | WS_TABSTOP |
                    LBS_NOTIFY | LBS_HASSTRINGS /* | WS_CLIPSIBLINGS */;
+
+    wxASSERT_MSG( !(style & wxLB_MULTIPLE) || !(style & wxLB_EXTENDED),
+                  _T("only one of listbox selection modes can be specified") );
+
     if (m_windowStyle & wxLB_MULTIPLE)
         wstyle |= LBS_MULTIPLESEL;
     else if (m_windowStyle & wxLB_EXTENDED)