diff --git a/src/Nonlinear/evaluator.jl b/src/Nonlinear/evaluator.jl
index c8cdc491cf..cf0e4a922f 100644
--- a/src/Nonlinear/evaluator.jl
+++ b/src/Nonlinear/evaluator.jl
@@ -74,9 +74,16 @@ function MOI.initialize(evaluator::Evaluator, features::Vector{Symbol})
     evaluator.eval_hessian_constraint_timer = 0.0
     evaluator.eval_hessian_lagrangian_timer = 0.0
     append!(evaluator.ordered_constraints, keys(evaluator.model.constraints))
+    # Every backend supports :ExprGraph, so don't forward it.
     filter!(f -> f != :ExprGraph, features)
     if evaluator.backend !== nothing
         MOI.initialize(evaluator.backend, features)
+    elseif !isempty(features)
+        @assert evaluator_backend === nothing  # ==> ExprGraphOnly used
+        error(
+            "Unable to initialize `Nonlinear.Evaluator` because the " *
+            "following features are not supported: $features",
+        )
     end
     return
 end
diff --git a/test/Nonlinear/Nonlinear.jl b/test/Nonlinear/Nonlinear.jl
index a5f2720817..9fcd1793aa 100644
--- a/test/Nonlinear/Nonlinear.jl
+++ b/test/Nonlinear/Nonlinear.jl
@@ -1131,8 +1131,24 @@ function test_is_empty()
     return
 end
 
+function test_unsupported_features_expr_graph_only()
+    evaluator = Nonlinear.Evaluator(
+        Nonlinear.Model(),
+        Nonlinear.ExprGraphOnly(),
+        MOI.VariableIndex[],
+    )
+    @test_throws(
+        ErrorException(
+            "Unable to initialize `Nonlinear.Evaluator` because the " *
+            "following features are not supported: $([:Grad])",
+        ),
+        MOI.initialize(evaluator, [:ExprGraph, :Grad]),
+    )
+    return
 end
 
+end  # TestNonlinear
+
 TestNonlinear.runtests()
 
 include("ReverseAD.jl")