diff --git a/manila/api/v1/shares.py b/manila/api/v1/shares.py
index 245bcda235..48d2797ab8 100644
--- a/manila/api/v1/shares.py
+++ b/manila/api/v1/shares.py
@@ -374,6 +374,8 @@ class ShareMixin(object):
                     exception.ShareTypeNotFoundByName):
                 msg = _("Share type not found.")
                 raise exc.HTTPNotFound(explanation=msg)
+            except exception.InvalidShareType as e:
+                raise exc.HTTPBadRequest(explanation=e.message)
         elif not snapshot:
             def_share_type = share_types.get_default_share_type()
             if def_share_type:
diff --git a/manila/share/share_types.py b/manila/share/share_types.py
index 3eff44ce91..09fb578616 100644
--- a/manila/share/share_types.py
+++ b/manila/share/share_types.py
@@ -199,7 +199,9 @@ def get_share_type_by_name(context, name):
     if name is None:
         msg = _("name cannot be None")
         raise exception.InvalidShareType(reason=msg)
-
+    if not isinstance(name, str):
+        msg = _("the share type's name parameter was badly formatted")
+        raise exception.InvalidShareType(reason=msg)
     return db.share_type_get_by_name(context, name)
 
 
diff --git a/manila/tests/api/v1/test_shares.py b/manila/tests/api/v1/test_shares.py
index 58c9259ddf..30dbdb9621 100644
--- a/manila/tests/api/v1/test_shares.py
+++ b/manila/tests/api/v1/test_shares.py
@@ -533,6 +533,26 @@ class ShareAPITest(test.TestCase):
         self.mock_policy_check.assert_called_once_with(
             req.environ['manila.context'], self.resource_name, 'create')
 
+    def test_share_creation_fails_with_invalid_share_type(self):
+        shr = {
+            "size": 1,
+            "name": "Share Test Name",
+            "description": "Share Test Desc",
+            "share_proto": "fakeproto",
+            "availability_zone": "zone1:host1",
+            "share_type": "Invalid share type"
+        }
+        body = {"share": shr}
+        req = fakes.HTTPRequest.blank('/fake/shares')
+        with mock.patch('manila.share.share_types.get_share_type_by_name',
+                        side_effect=exception.InvalidShareType(reason='')):
+            self.assertRaises(webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest,
+                              self.controller.create,
+                              req,
+                              body)
+            self.mock_policy_check.assert_called_once_with(
+                req.environ['manila.context'], self.resource_name, 'create')
+
     def test_share_create_invalid_availability_zone(self):
         self.mock_object(
             db,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1944478-change-status-for-shares-api-5dbc4986d032c8e1.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1944478-change-status-for-shares-api-5dbc4986d032c8e1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81d49cb095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1944478-change-status-for-shares-api-5dbc4986d032c8e1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Changed the error and status code that was raised
+    when share types are not handled in shares api
\ No newline at end of file