1 files changed, 3 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/synapse/util/caches/treecache.py b/synapse/util/caches/treecache.py
index 73502a8b06..a6df81ebff 100644
--- a/synapse/util/caches/treecache.py
+++ b/synapse/util/caches/treecache.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ class TreeCache:
             value. If the key is partial, the TreeCacheNode corresponding to the part
             of the tree that was removed.
         """
+        if not isinstance(key, tuple):
+            raise TypeError("The cache key must be a tuple not %r" % (type(key),))
+
         # a list of the nodes we have touched on the way down the tree
         nodes = []