diff --git a/internal/juju/applications.go b/internal/juju/applications.go
index d5a350d0..66b0ced1 100644
--- a/internal/juju/applications.go
+++ b/internal/juju/applications.go
@@ -248,10 +248,12 @@ func (c applicationsClient) CreateApplication(input *CreateApplicationInput) (*C
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("expected only one resolution, received %d", len(resolved))
 	}
 	resolvedCharm := resolved[0]
-
 	if resolvedCharm.Error != nil {
 		return nil, resolvedCharm.Error
 	}
+	if resolvedCharm.Origin.Type == "bundle" {
+		return nil, jujuerrors.Errorf("%q is a bundle not a charm", input.CharmName)
+	}
 
 	// Figure out the actual series of the charm
 	var series string