diff --git a/sqlite_utils/db.py b/sqlite_utils/db.py
index e781e2a..2078525 100644
--- a/sqlite_utils/db.py
+++ b/sqlite_utils/db.py
@@ -245,6 +245,11 @@ class Database:
         ), "defaults set {} includes items not in columns {}".format(
             repr(set(defaults)), repr(set(columns.keys()))
         )
+        # Validate no columns contain '[' or ']' - #86
+        for column in columns.keys():
+            assert (
+                "[" not in column and "]" not in column
+            ), "'[' and ']' cannot be used in column names"
         column_items = list(columns.items())
         if column_order is not None:
             column_items.sort(
diff --git a/tests/test_create.py b/tests/test_create.py
index 7f22ded..6ad54d0 100644
--- a/tests/test_create.py
+++ b/tests/test_create.py
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ def test_create_table_with_bad_defaults(fresh_db):
         )
 
 
+def test_create_table_with_invalid_column_charactters(fresh_db):
+    with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
+        fresh_db.create_table("players", {"name[foo]": str})
+
+
 def test_create_table_with_defaults(fresh_db):
     table = fresh_db.create_table(
         "players",