diff --git a/cqlengine/connection.py b/cqlengine/connection.py
index 988d5fd2..da86e600 100644
--- a/cqlengine/connection.py
+++ b/cqlengine/connection.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def execute(query, params=None, consistency_level=None):
 
     if not session:
         raise CQLEngineException("It is required to setup() cqlengine before executing queries")
-    
+
     if consistency_level is None:
         consistency_level = default_consistency_level
 
diff --git a/cqlengine/management.py b/cqlengine/management.py
index 54128ceb..a47e9e92 100644
--- a/cqlengine/management.py
+++ b/cqlengine/management.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from collections import namedtuple
 Field = namedtuple('Field', ['name', 'type'])
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
-
+from cqlengine.models import Model
 
 # system keyspaces
 schema_columnfamilies = NamedTable('system', 'schema_columnfamilies')
@@ -74,9 +74,13 @@ def sync_table(model, create_missing_keyspace=True):
     :type create_missing_keyspace: bool
     """
 
+    if not issubclass(model, Model):
+        raise CQLEngineException("Models must be derived from base Model.")
+    
     if model.__abstract__:
         raise CQLEngineException("cannot create table from abstract model")
 
+
     #construct query string
     cf_name = model.column_family_name()
     raw_cf_name = model.column_family_name(include_keyspace=False)
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py b/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
index 67e77a35..b7c492db 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/management/test_management.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-
+from cqlengine.exceptions import CQLEngineException
 from cqlengine.management import  get_fields, sync_table, drop_table
 from cqlengine.tests.base import BaseCassEngTestCase
 from cqlengine import management
@@ -140,3 +140,11 @@ class SyncTableTests(BaseCassEngTestCase):
 
         table_settings = management.get_table_settings(PrimaryKeysOnlyModel)
         assert SizeTieredCompactionStrategy in table_settings.options['compaction_strategy_class']
+
+class NonModelFailureTest(BaseCassEngTestCase):
+    class FakeModel(object):
+        pass
+
+    def test_failure(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(CQLEngineException):
+            sync_table(self.FakeModel)