diff --git a/doc/releases/changelog-dev.md b/doc/releases/changelog-dev.md
index 75bd2d872e9..b5aa5163048 100644
--- a/doc/releases/changelog-dev.md
+++ b/doc/releases/changelog-dev.md
@@ -219,6 +219,10 @@
   [(#5256)](https://github.com/PennyLaneAI/pennylane/pull/5256)
   [(#5395)](https://github.com/PennyLaneAI/pennylane/pull/5395)
 
+* A clear error message is added in `KerasLayer` when using the newest version of TensorFlow with Keras 3 
+  (which is not currently compatible with `KerasLayer`), linking to instructions to enable Keras 2.
+  [(#5488)](https://github.com/PennyLaneAI/pennylane/pull/5488)
+
 <h3>Breaking changes 💔</h3>
 
 * The private functions `_pauli_mult`, `_binary_matrix` and `_get_pauli_map` from the `pauli` module have been removed. The same functionality can be achieved using newer features in the ``pauli`` module.
@@ -380,6 +384,7 @@ Astral Cai,
 Isaac De Vlugt,
 Amintor Dusko,
 Pietropaolo Frisoni,
+Lillian M. A. Frederiksen,
 Soran Jahangiri,
 Korbinian Kottmann,
 Christina Lee,
diff --git a/pennylane/qnn/keras.py b/pennylane/qnn/keras.py
index 6322d235094..1b533686454 100644
--- a/pennylane/qnn/keras.py
+++ b/pennylane/qnn/keras.py
@@ -16,12 +16,23 @@
 import inspect
 from collections.abc import Iterable
 from typing import Optional, Text
+from semantic_version import Version
+
 
 try:
     import tensorflow as tf
     from tensorflow.keras.layers import Layer
 
-    CORRECT_TF_VERSION = int(tf.__version__.split(".", maxsplit=1)[0]) > 1
+    CORRECT_TF_VERSION = Version(tf.__version__) >= Version("2.0.0")
+    try:
+        # this feels a bit hacky, but if users *only* have an old (i.e. PL-compatible) version of Keras installed
+        # then tf.keras doesn't have a version attribute, and we *should be* good to go.
+        # if you have a newer version of Keras installed, then you can use tf.keras.version to check if you
+        # are configured to use Keras 3 or Keras 2
+        CORRECT_KERAS_VERSION = Version(tf.keras.version()) < Version("3.0.0")
+    except AttributeError:
+        CORRECT_KERAS_VERSION = True
+
 except ImportError:
     # The following allows this module to be imported even if TensorFlow is not installed. Users
     # will instead see an ImportError when instantiating the KerasLayer.
@@ -40,6 +51,13 @@ class KerasLayer(Layer):
     `Model <https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/keras/Model>`__ classes for
     creating quantum and hybrid models.
 
+    .. note::
+
+        ``KerasLayer`` currently only supports Keras 2. If you are running the newest version
+        of TensorFlow and Keras, you may automatically be using Keras 3. For instructions
+        on running with Keras 2, instead, see the
+        `documentation on backwards compatibility <https://keras.io/getting_started/#tensorflow--keras-2-backwards-compatibility>`__ .
+
     Args:
         qnode (qml.QNode): the PennyLane QNode to be converted into a Keras Layer_
         weight_shapes (dict[str, tuple]): a dictionary mapping from all weights used in the QNode to
@@ -299,6 +317,12 @@ def __init__(
                 "https://www.tensorflow.org/install for detailed instructions."
             )
 
+        if not CORRECT_KERAS_VERSION:
+            raise ImportError(
+                "KerasLayer requires a Keras version lower than 3. For instructions on running with Keras 2,"
+                "visit https://keras.io/getting_started/#tensorflow--keras-2-backwards-compatibility."
+            )
+
         self.weight_shapes = {
             weight: (tuple(size) if isinstance(size, Iterable) else (size,) if size > 1 else ())
             for weight, size in weight_shapes.items()
diff --git a/tests/qnn/test_keras.py b/tests/qnn/test_keras.py
index a75635ef18f..18d28dbc8ae 100644
--- a/tests/qnn/test_keras.py
+++ b/tests/qnn/test_keras.py
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ def indices_up_to_dm(n_max):
     return zip(*[a + 1], zip(*[2 ** (b + 1), 2 ** (b + 1)]))
 
 
+# pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 @pytest.mark.tf
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("interface", ["tf"])  # required for the get_circuit fixture
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("get_circuit")
@@ -114,6 +115,20 @@ def test_bad_tf_version(
             with pytest.raises(ImportError, match="KerasLayer requires TensorFlow version 2"):
                 KerasLayer(c, w, output_dim)
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("n_qubits, output_dim", indices_up_to(1))
+    def test_bad_keras_version(
+        self, get_circuit, output_dim, monkeypatch
+    ):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
+        """Test if an ImportError is raised when instantiated with an incorrect version of
+        Keras."""
+        c, w = get_circuit
+        with monkeypatch.context() as m:
+            m.setattr(qml.qnn.keras, "CORRECT_KERAS_VERSION", False)
+            with pytest.raises(
+                ImportError, match="KerasLayer requires a Keras version lower than 3"
+            ):
+                KerasLayer(c, w, output_dim)
+
     @pytest.mark.parametrize("n_qubits, output_dim", indices_up_to(1))
     def test_no_input(self):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use
         """Test if a TypeError is raised when instantiated with a QNode that does not have an