diff --git a/lib/stimulus_reflex/reflex_factory.rb b/lib/stimulus_reflex/reflex_factory.rb
index f587ba68..8c771011 100644
--- a/lib/stimulus_reflex/reflex_factory.rb
+++ b/lib/stimulus_reflex/reflex_factory.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 class StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory
   attr_reader :channel, :data
 
-  delegate :reflex_name, to: :data
+  delegate :reflex_name, :method_name, to: :data
 
   def initialize(channel, data)
     @channel = channel
@@ -11,16 +11,49 @@ def initialize(channel, data)
   end
 
   def call
+    verify_method_name!
     reflex_class.new(channel, reflex_data: data)
   end
 
   private
 
+  def verify_method_name!
+    return if default_reflex?
+
+    argument_error = ArgumentError.new("Reflex method '#{method_name}' is not defined on class '#{reflex_name}' or on any of its ancestors")
+
+    if reflex_method.nil?
+      raise argument_error
+    end
+
+    if !safe_ancestors.include?(reflex_method.owner)
+      raise argument_error
+    end
+  end
+
   def reflex_class
-    reflex_name.constantize.tap do |klass|
+    @reflex_class ||= reflex_name.constantize.tap do |klass|
       unless klass.ancestors.include?(StimulusReflex::Reflex)
         raise ArgumentError.new("#{reflex_name} is not a StimulusReflex::Reflex")
       end
     end
   end
+
+  def reflex_method
+    if reflex_class.public_instance_methods.include?(method_name.to_sym)
+      reflex_class.public_instance_method(method_name)
+    end
+  end
+
+  def default_reflex?
+    method_name == "default_reflex" && reflex_method.owner == ::StimulusReflex::Reflex
+  end
+
+  def safe_ancestors
+    # We want to include every class and module up to the `StimulusReflex::Reflex` class,
+    # but not the StimulusReflex::Reflex itself
+    reflex_class_index = reflex_class.ancestors.index(StimulusReflex::Reflex) - 1
+
+    reflex_class.ancestors.to(reflex_class_index)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/test/reflex_factory_test.rb b/test/reflex_factory_test.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4241326d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/reflex_factory_test.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require_relative "test_helper"
+
+class StimulusReflex::ReflexFactoryTest < ActionCable::Channel::TestCase
+  tests StimulusReflex::Channel
+
+  test "reflex class needs to be an ancestor of StimulusReflex::Reflex" do
+    exception = assert_raises(NameError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "Object#inspect"}).call }
+    assert_equal "uninitialized constant ObjectReflex", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "NoReflex#no_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "NoReflex is not a StimulusReflex::Reflex", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "No#no_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "NoReflex is not a StimulusReflex::Reflex", exception.message
+  end
+
+  test "doesn't raise if owner of method is ancestor of reflex class and descendant of StimulusReflex::Reflex" do
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "ApplicationReflex#default_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "ApplicationReflex#application_reflex"}).call }
+
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "PostReflex#default_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "PostReflex#application_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "PostReflex#post_reflex"}).call }
+
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "CounterReflex#default_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "CounterReflex#application_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_nothing_raised { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {version: StimulusReflex::VERSION, target: "CounterReflex#increment"}).call }
+  end
+
+  test "raises if method is not owned by a descendant of StimulusReflex::Reflex" do
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "ApplicationReflex#itself"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'itself' is not defined on class 'ApplicationReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "ApplicationReflex#itself"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'itself' is not defined on class 'ApplicationReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#itself"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'itself' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#binding"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'binding' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#byebug"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'byebug' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#debug"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'debug' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "ApplicationReflex#post_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'post_reflex' is not defined on class 'ApplicationReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+  end
+
+  test "raises if method is a private method" do
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "ApplicationReflex#private_application_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'private_application_reflex' is not defined on class 'ApplicationReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#private_application_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'private_application_reflex' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#private_post_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'private_post_reflex' is not defined on class 'PostReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+
+    exception = assert_raises(ArgumentError) { StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "CounterReflex#private_post_reflex"}).call }
+    assert_equal "Reflex method 'private_post_reflex' is not defined on class 'CounterReflex' or on any of its ancestors", exception.message
+  end
+
+  test "safe_ancestors" do
+    reflex_factory = StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "ApplicationReflex#default_reflex"})
+    assert_equal [ApplicationReflex, StimulusReflex::CableReadiness], reflex_factory.send(:safe_ancestors)
+
+    reflex_factory = StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "PostReflex#default_reflex"})
+    assert_equal [PostReflex, ApplicationReflex, StimulusReflex::CableReadiness], reflex_factory.send(:safe_ancestors)
+
+    reflex_factory = StimulusReflex::ReflexFactory.new(subscribe, {target: "CounterReflex#increment"})
+    assert_equal [CounterReflex, CounterConcern, ApplicationReflex, StimulusReflex::CableReadiness], reflex_factory.send(:safe_ancestors)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/test_helper.rb b/test/test_helper.rb
index de9b5ac6..a9d7e638 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.rb
+++ b/test/test_helper.rb
@@ -50,6 +50,40 @@ def to_gid_param
   end
 end
 
+class ApplicationReflex < StimulusReflex::Reflex
+  def application_reflex
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def private_application_reflex
+  end
+end
+
+class PostReflex < ApplicationReflex
+  def post_reflex
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def private_post_reflex
+  end
+end
+
+class NoReflex
+  def no_reflex
+  end
+end
+
+module CounterConcern
+  def increment
+  end
+end
+
+class CounterReflex < ApplicationReflex
+  include CounterConcern
+end
+
 module ActionCable
   module Channel
     class ConnectionStub