diff --git a/src/plopp/backends/matplotlib/line.py b/src/plopp/backends/matplotlib/line.py
index 4ecd1ce8..fa03143b 100644
--- a/src/plopp/backends/matplotlib/line.py
+++ b/src/plopp/backends/matplotlib/line.py
@@ -163,6 +163,11 @@ def _make_line(
             leg_args = {}
             if isinstance(self._canvas._legend, (list, tuple)):
                 leg_args = {'loc': self._canvas._legend}
+            elif not isinstance(self._canvas._legend, bool):
+                raise TypeError(
+                    "Legend must be a bool, tuple, or a list, "
+                    f"not {type(self._canvas._legend)}"
+                )
             self._ax.legend(**leg_args)
 
     def _make_data(self) -> dict:
diff --git a/tests/plotting/plot_test.py b/tests/plotting/plot_test.py
index 899c7d50..0fe53df7 100644
--- a/tests/plotting/plot_test.py
+++ b/tests/plotting/plot_test.py
@@ -397,3 +397,10 @@ def test_legend_location():
     assert leg2[1] == leg1[1]
     assert leg3[1] > leg1[1]
     assert leg3[0] == leg1[0]
+
+
+def test_hide_legend_bad_type():
+    da1 = data_array(ndim=1)
+    da2 = da1 * 3.3
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match='Legend must be a bool, tuple, or a list'):
+        pp.plot({'a': da1, 'b': da2}, legend='False')