diff --git a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/user.py b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/user.py
index bbd2389ee5..a30b3f1bc6 100644
--- a/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/user.py
+++ b/contentcuration/contentcuration/viewsets/user.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import uuid
 from functools import reduce
 
 from django.db import IntegrityError
@@ -311,11 +312,17 @@ def remove_self(self, request, pk=None):
 
         if not channel_id:
             return HttpResponseBadRequest("Channel ID is required.")
+        try:
+            uuid.UUID(channel_id)
+        except ValueError:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest("Invalid channel ID")
 
         try:
             channel = Channel.objects.get(id=channel_id)
         except Channel.DoesNotExist:
             return HttpResponseNotFound("Channel not found {}".format(channel_id))
+        except ValueError:
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest("Invalid channel ID: {}".format(channel_id))
 
         if request.user != user and not request.user.can_edit(channel_id):
             return HttpResponseForbidden(