diff --git a/nomen/utils.py b/nomen/utils.py
index 417a9c8..29a77ef 100644
--- a/nomen/utils.py
+++ b/nomen/utils.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from itertools import chain
 
 import re2 as re
 from disnake import ChannelType
+from disnake.ext.commands import BadArgument
 
 log = logging.getLogger("nomen.utils")
 
@@ -87,9 +88,14 @@ def compile_keyword(keyword, regex):
     if not regex:
         keyword = re.escape(keyword)
 
-    reg = re.compile(rf"(?i)\b{keyword}\b")
-    regex_cache[(keyword, regex)] = reg
-    return reg
+    try:
+        reg = re.compile(rf"(?i)\b{keyword}\b")
+        regex_cache[(keyword, regex)] = reg
+        return reg
+    except re._re2.Error:
+        raise BadArgument(
+            "Invalid regex. Nomen only supports regexes that [re2](<https://github.com/google/re2>) can parse."
+        )
 
 
 def contains(string, keyword, regex):