diff --git a/tracetools_analysis/tracetools_analysis/processor/memory_usage.py b/tracetools_analysis/tracetools_analysis/processor/memory_usage.py
index a7a30b5..dbc9684 100644
--- a/tracetools_analysis/tracetools_analysis/processor/memory_usage.py
+++ b/tracetools_analysis/tracetools_analysis/processor/memory_usage.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class MemoryUsageHandler(EventHandler):
         self,
         **kwargs,
     ) -> None:
+        if type(self) is MemoryUsageHandler:
+            raise RuntimeError('Do not instanciate MemoryUsageHandler directly!')
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
         self._data_model = MemoryUsageDataModel()