diff --git a/api4/channel.go b/api4/channel.go
index 7a1324883e..07e48b46fa 100644
--- a/api4/channel.go
+++ b/api4/channel.go
@@ -826,6 +826,11 @@ func addChannelMember(c *Context, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		return
 	}
 
+	if channel.Type == model.CHANNEL_DIRECT || channel.Type == model.CHANNEL_GROUP {
+		c.Err = model.NewAppError("addUserToChannel", "api.channel.add_user_to_channel.type.app_error", nil, "", http.StatusBadRequest)
+		return
+	}
+
 	if cm, err := c.App.AddChannelMember(member.UserId, channel, c.Session.UserId); err != nil {
 		c.Err = err
 		return