diff --git a/datagateway_api/src/search_api/query_filter_factory.py b/datagateway_api/src/search_api/query_filter_factory.py
index 816818d9..ff1150ae 100644
--- a/datagateway_api/src/search_api/query_filter_factory.py
+++ b/datagateway_api/src/search_api/query_filter_factory.py
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ def get_where_filter(where_filter_input, entity_name):
         :return: The list of `NestedWhereFilters` and/ or `SearchAPIWhereFilter` objects
             created
         """
+        if not isinstance(where_filter_input, dict):
+            raise FilterError(
+                "Bad where filter input, please ensure that it is provided as an "
+                "object",
+            )
 
         where_filters = []
         if where_filter_input: