diff --git a/openmc/filter.py b/openmc/filter.py
index 311db94d190..c9457ceeb1c 100644
--- a/openmc/filter.py
+++ b/openmc/filter.py
@@ -1400,6 +1400,7 @@ def from_group_structure(cls, group_structure):
 
         """
 
+        cv.check_value('group_structure', group_structure, openmc.mgxs.GROUP_STRUCTURES.keys())
         return cls(openmc.mgxs.GROUP_STRUCTURES[group_structure.upper()])