diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
index 5c3f6dc5952f..04eaa6cf75df 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/artist.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 from .colors import BoundaryNorm
 from .cm import ScalarMappable
 from .path import Path
-from .transforms import (Bbox, IdentityTransform, Transform, TransformedBbox,
+from .transforms import (BboxBase, Bbox, IdentityTransform, Transform, TransformedBbox,
                          TransformedPatchPath, TransformedPath)
 
 _log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -763,6 +763,7 @@ def set_clip_box(self, clipbox):
             clipping for an artist added to an Axes.
 
         """
+        _api.check_isinstance((BboxBase, None), clipbox=clipbox)
         if clipbox != self.clipbox:
             self.clipbox = clipbox
             self.pchanged()