diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f3e00a8..34a6ce1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@ print(results['parameters'].get_dict())
 
 The geometry of the structure is fully defined through the `structure` input, which is provided by a `StructureData`
 node. Any other properties, e.g., the charge and what basis set to use, can be specified through the `structure`
-dictionary in the `parameters` input:
+dictionary in the `parameters` input. A specific SCF solver can also be specified using the `solver` keyword. For
+example:
 
 ```python
 from ase.build import molecule
@@ -142,7 +143,10 @@ from aiida.orm import Dict, StructureData, load_code
 builder = load_code('pyscf').get_builder()
 builder.structure = StructureData(ase=molecule('H2O'))
 builder.parameters = Dict({
-    'mean_field': {'method': 'RHF'},
+    'mean_field': {
+        'method': 'RHF',
+        'solver': 'CDIIS',
+    },
     'structure': {
         'basis ': 'sto-3g',
         'charge': 0,
diff --git a/src/aiida_pyscf/calculations/base.py b/src/aiida_pyscf/calculations/base.py
index caf8944..c6afe30 100644
--- a/src/aiida_pyscf/calculations/base.py
+++ b/src/aiida_pyscf/calculations/base.py
@@ -174,6 +174,7 @@ def validate_parameters(cls, value: Dict | None, _) -> str | None:  # noqa: PLR0
 
         if (scf_solver := mean_field.get('solver')) is not None:
             valid_scf_solvers = ('DIIS', 'CDIIS', 'EDIIS', 'ADIIS')
+            forbidden_scf_solvers = ('SOSCF', 'NEWTON')
             options = ' '.join(valid_scf_solvers)
 
             if scf_solver is None:
@@ -183,6 +184,13 @@ def validate_parameters(cls, value: Dict | None, _) -> str | None:  # noqa: PLR0
                 scf_solver = 'CDIIS'
                 return '`DIIS` is an alias for CDIIS in PySCF. Using `CDIIS` explicitly instead.'
 
+            # When PySCF adds support for pickling SOSCF objects, we can remove this stanza
+            if scf_solver.upper() in forbidden_scf_solvers:
+                return (
+                    f'The solver `{scf_solver.upper()}` specified in `mean_field.solver` parameters is not yet '
+                    f'supported. Choose from: {options}'
+                )
+
             if scf_solver.upper() not in valid_scf_solvers:
                 return (
                     f'Invalid solver `{scf_solver}` specified in `mean_field.solver` parameters. Choose from: {options}'
diff --git a/tests/calculations/test_base.py b/tests/calculations/test_base.py
index da98ffd..c80f608 100644
--- a/tests/calculations/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/calculations/test_base.py
@@ -210,6 +210,19 @@ def test_invalid_parameters_mean_field_solver_diis(generate_calc_job, generate_i
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=r'`DIIS` is an alias for CDIIS in PySCF. Using `CDIIS` explicitly instead.'):
         generate_calc_job(PyscfCalculation, inputs=inputs)
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    'solver, expected', (
+        ({'solver': 'newton'}, 'The solver `NEWTON` specified in `mean_field.solver` parameters is not yet supported.'),
+        ({'solver': 'sOsCf'}, 'The solver `SOSCF` specified in `mean_field.solver` parameters is not yet supported.'),
+    )
+)
+def test_invalid_parameters_mean_field_solver_second_order(generate_calc_job, generate_inputs_pyscf, solver, expected):
+    """Test logic to catch second order solver input for ``parameters.mean_field.solver``."""
+    parameters = {'mean_field': solver}
+    inputs = generate_inputs_pyscf(parameters=parameters)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=expected):
+        generate_calc_job(PyscfCalculation, inputs=inputs)
+
 
 def test_invalid_parameters_mean_field_chkfile(generate_calc_job, generate_inputs_pyscf):
     """Test validation of ``parameters.mean_field.chkfile``, is not allowed as set automatically by plugin."""