diff --git a/devito/finite_differences/tools.py b/devito/finite_differences/tools.py
index d153d082bd..5856a767ef 100644
--- a/devito/finite_differences/tools.py
+++ b/devito/finite_differences/tools.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import numpy as np
 from sympy import S, finite_diff_weights, cacheit, sympify, Function, Rational
 
+from devito.logger import warning
 from devito.tools import Tag, as_tuple
 from devito.types.dimension import StencilDimension
 
@@ -260,6 +261,18 @@ def generate_indices(expr, dim, order, side=None, matvec=None, x0=None, nweights
     -------
     An IndexSet, representing an ordered list of indices.
     """
+    # Check size of input weights
+    if nweights > 0:
+        do, dw = order + 1 + order % 2, nweights
+        if do < dw:
+            raise ValueError(f"More weights ({nweights}) provided than the maximum"
+                             f"stencil size ({order + 1}) for order {order} scheme")
+        elif do > dw:
+            warning(f"Less weights ({nweights}) provided than the stencil size"
+                    f"({order + 1}) for order {order} scheme."
+                    " Reducing order to {nweights//2}")
+            order = nweights - nweights % 2
+
     # Evaluation point
     x0 = sympify(((x0 or {}).get(dim) or expr.indices_ref[dim]))
 
@@ -276,23 +289,15 @@ def generate_indices(expr, dim, order, side=None, matvec=None, x0=None, nweights
     side = side or centered
 
     # Indices range
-    o_min = int(np.ceil(mid - order/2)) + side.val
-    o_max = int(np.floor(mid + order/2)) + side.val
+    r = (nweights or order) / 2
+    o_min = int(np.ceil(mid - r)) + side.val
+    o_max = int(np.floor(mid + r)) + side.val
     if o_max == o_min:
         if dim.is_Time or not expr.is_Staggered:
             o_max += 1
         else:
             o_min -= 1
 
-    if nweights > 0 and (o_max - o_min + 1) != nweights:
-        # We cannot infer how the stencil should be centered
-        # if nweights is more than one extra point.
-        assert nweights == (o_max - o_min + 1) + 1
-        # In the "one extra" case  we need to pad with one point to symmetrize
-        if (o_max - mid) > (mid - o_min):
-            o_min -= 1
-        else:
-            o_max += 1
     # StencilDimension and expression
     d = make_stencil_dimension(expr, o_min, o_max)
     iexpr = expr.indices_ref[dim] + d * dim.spacing
diff --git a/tests/test_unexpansion.py b/tests/test_unexpansion.py
index c82b548c29..86c61f6561 100644
--- a/tests/test_unexpansion.py
+++ b/tests/test_unexpansion.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from conftest import assert_structure, get_params, get_arrays, check_array
 from devito import (Buffer, Eq, Function, TimeFunction, Grid, Operator,
-                    cos, sin)
+                    Coefficient, Substitutions, cos, sin)
 from devito.finite_differences import Weights
 from devito.arch.compiler import OneapiCompiler
 from devito.ir import Expression, FindNodes, FindSymbols
@@ -76,6 +76,35 @@ def test_multiple_cross_derivs(self, coeffs, expected):
         weights = {f for f in functions if isinstance(f, Weights)}
         assert len(weights) == expected
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('order', [1, 2])
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize('nweight', [None, +4, -4])
+    def test_legacy_api(self, order, nweight):
+        grid = Grid(shape=(51, 51, 51))
+        x, y, z = grid.dimensions
+
+        nweight = 0 if nweight is None else nweight
+        so = 8
+
+        u = TimeFunction(name='u', grid=grid, space_order=so,
+                         coefficients='symbolic')
+
+        w0 = np.arange(so + 1 + nweight) + 1
+        wstr = '{' + ', '.join([f"{w:1.1f}F" for w in w0]) + '}'
+        wdef = f'[{so + 1 + nweight}] __attribute__ ((aligned (64)))'
+
+        coeffs_x_p1 = Coefficient(order, u, x, w0)
+
+        coeffs = Substitutions(coeffs_x_p1)
+
+        eqn = Eq(u, u.dx.dy + u.dx2 + .37, coefficients=coeffs)
+
+        if nweight > 0:
+            with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+                op = Operator(eqn, opt=('advanced', {'expand': False}))
+        else:
+            op = Operator(eqn, opt=('advanced', {'expand': False}))
+            assert f'{wdef} = {wstr}' in str(op)
+
 
 class Test1Pass: