diff --git a/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection.py b/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection.py
index 2ba9d6e6..184a7ab4 100644
--- a/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection.py
+++ b/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection.py
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ def linearize_term(term, n_orbitals):
         r = term[2][0]
         s = term[3][0]
         return 1 + n_orbitals**2 + p + q * n_orbitals + r * n_orbitals**2 + s * n_orbitals**3
+    raise ValueError(
+        'Expect one-body (2 terms) or two-body (4 terms) operator but got {} terms. '.format(
+            len(term)
+        )
+    )
 
 
 def unlinearize_term(index, n_orbitals):
diff --git a/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection_test.py b/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection_test.py
index d59f6a9f..f1a64fcb 100644
--- a/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection_test.py
+++ b/src/openfermion/measurements/equality_constraint_projection_test.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 import unittest
 import numpy
 
+from openfermion.ops.operators import FermionOperator
 from openfermion.chem import MolecularData
 from openfermion.config import DATA_DIRECTORY
 from openfermion.transforms.opconversions import get_fermion_operator
@@ -59,6 +60,11 @@ def test_linearize_term(self):
             self.assertFalse(index in past_terms)
             past_terms.add(index)
 
+    def test_error_with_non_physical_term(self):
+        non_physical_operator = FermionOperator((0, 1))
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            linearize_term(non_physical_operator.terms, self.n_orbitals)
+
     def test_unlinearize_term_consistency(self):
         for term, _ in self.fermion_hamiltonian.terms.items():
             index = linearize_term(term, self.n_orbitals)