diff --git a/packages/superset-ui-legacy-plugin-chart-horizon/src/HorizonChart.jsx b/packages/superset-ui-legacy-plugin-chart-horizon/src/HorizonChart.jsx
index 833aeba3d..b323cbb5b 100644
--- a/packages/superset-ui-legacy-plugin-chart-horizon/src/HorizonChart.jsx
+++ b/packages/superset-ui-legacy-plugin-chart-horizon/src/HorizonChart.jsx
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ class HorizonChart extends React.PureComponent {
       yDomain = d3Extent(allValues, d => d.y);
     }
 
+    if (data.length <= 1)
+      throw new Error('Please select a "Group by" option to enable multiple rows.');
+
     return (
       <div className={`superset-legacy-chart-horizon ${className}`} style={{ height }}>
         {data.map(row => (