diff --git a/.changeset/metal-queens-doubt.md b/.changeset/metal-queens-doubt.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fd38889f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/metal-queens-doubt.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@changesets/apply-release-plan": patch
+---
+
+Improve error handling when an invalid release type is specified in a changeset
diff --git a/packages/apply-release-plan/src/get-changelog-entry.ts b/packages/apply-release-plan/src/get-changelog-entry.ts
index 1f07982de..fb13b8f68 100644
--- a/packages/apply-release-plan/src/get-changelog-entry.ts
+++ b/packages/apply-release-plan/src/get-changelog-entry.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,12 @@ export default async function getChangelogEntry(
   changesets.forEach((cs) => {
     const rls = cs.releases.find((r) => r.name === release.name);
     if (rls && rls.type !== "none") {
+      if (!(rls.type in changelogLines)) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `Invalid release type of "${rls.type}" for package "${rls.name}" in changeset "${cs.id}"`
+        );
+      }
+
       changelogLines[rls.type].push(
         changelogFuncs.getReleaseLine(cs, rls.type, changelogOpts)
       );