SEP IRA check from my employer to me by name

I work for a small employer and he gave me my SEP IRA contribution in a check made out to me by name. Can I deposit this in my checking account and then immediately transfer it into my SEP IRA account that I created without tax problems for me or my employer or do I need to get them to cut a new check directly to the provider so that it does not go through my checking account, even if only briefly? My employer doesn’t seem to know as he was a solo before hiring me and therefore only had to find his own account. Thanks!!