diff --git a/auditlog/registry.py b/auditlog/registry.py
index a7b26a2..998105f 100644
--- a/auditlog/registry.py
+++ b/auditlog/registry.py
@@ -261,7 +261,13 @@ class AuditlogModelRegistry:
                     self.unregister(model_class)
                     self.register(model_class)
             elif isinstance(model, dict):
-                model["model"] = self._get_model_classes(model["model"])[0]
+                appmodel = self._get_model_classes(model["model"])
+                if not appmodel:
+                    raise AuditLogRegistrationError(
+                        f"An error was encountered while registering model '{model['model']}' - "
+                        "make sure the app is registered correctly."
+                    )
+                model["model"] = appmodel[0]
                 self.unregister(model["model"])
                 self.register(**model)
 
diff --git a/auditlog_tests/tests.py b/auditlog_tests/tests.py
index feb5490..dbf8ca9 100644
--- a/auditlog_tests/tests.py
+++ b/auditlog_tests/tests.py
@@ -1158,6 +1158,18 @@ class RegisterModelSettingsTest(TestCase):
             ):
                 self.test_auditlog.register_from_settings()
 
+        with override_settings(
+            AUDITLOG_INCLUDE_TRACKING_MODELS=({"model": "notanapp.test"},)
+        ):
+            with self.assertRaisesMessage(
+                AuditLogRegistrationError,
+                (
+                    "An error was encountered while registering model 'notanapp.test'"
+                    " - make sure the app is registered correctly."
+                ),
+            ):
+                self.test_auditlog.register_from_settings()
+
         with override_settings(AUDITLOG_DISABLE_ON_RAW_SAVE="bad value"):
             with self.assertRaisesMessage(
                 TypeError, "Setting 'AUDITLOG_DISABLE_ON_RAW_SAVE' must be a boolean"