diff --git a/changelog.d/8129.bugfix b/changelog.d/8129.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..79eae9db6bd9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/8129.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Return a proper error code when the rooms of an invalid group are requested.
diff --git a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
index d84a6d7e1108..13ecf7005d13 100644
--- a/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
+++ b/synapse/rest/client/v2_alpha/groups.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 import logging
 
+from synapse.api.errors import SynapseError
 from synapse.http.servlet import RestServlet, parse_json_object_from_request
 from synapse.types import GroupID
 
@@ -325,6 +326,9 @@ async def on_GET(self, request, group_id):
         requester = await self.auth.get_user_by_req(request, allow_guest=True)
         requester_user_id = requester.user.to_string()
 
+        if not GroupID.is_valid(group_id):
+            raise SynapseError(400, "%s was not legal group ID" % (group_id,))
+
         result = await self.groups_handler.get_rooms_in_group(
             group_id, requester_user_id
         )