diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
index 02134f0317..76102b9be4 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/table/index.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import { jsonFromCsvString } from "../../../utilities/csv"
 import { builderSocket } from "../../../websockets"
 import { cloneDeep } from "lodash"
 import {
+  canBeDisplayColumn,
   helpers,
   PROTECTED_EXTERNAL_COLUMNS,
   PROTECTED_INTERNAL_COLUMNS,
@@ -67,6 +68,20 @@ function checkDefaultFields(table: Table) {
   }
 }
 
+function guardTable(table: Table) {
+  checkDefaultFields(table)
+
+  if (
+    table.primaryDisplay &&
+    !canBeDisplayColumn(table.schema[table.primaryDisplay]?.type)
+  ) {
+    throw new HTTPError(
+      `Column "${table.primaryDisplay}" cannot be used as a display type.`,
+      400
+    )
+  }
+}
+
 // covers both internal and external
 export async function fetch(ctx: UserCtx<void, FetchTablesResponse>) {
   const internal = await sdk.tables.getAllInternalTables()
@@ -111,7 +126,7 @@ export async function save(ctx: UserCtx<SaveTableRequest, SaveTableResponse>) {
 
   const isCreate = !table._id
 
-  checkDefaultFields(table)
+  guardTable(table)
 
   let savedTable: Table
   if (isCreate) {
diff --git a/packages/shared-core/src/table.ts b/packages/shared-core/src/table.ts
index 5402439d9c..070ee6c760 100644
--- a/packages/shared-core/src/table.ts
+++ b/packages/shared-core/src/table.ts
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ const allowDisplayColumnByType: Record<FieldType, boolean> = {
   [FieldType.AUTO]: true,
   [FieldType.INTERNAL]: true,
   [FieldType.BARCODEQR]: true,
-
   [FieldType.BIGINT]: true,
+
   [FieldType.BOOLEAN]: false,
   [FieldType.ARRAY]: false,
   [FieldType.ATTACHMENTS]: false,