diff --git a/langchain/document_loaders/directory.py b/langchain/document_loaders/directory.py
index cf1065f2..003d6f01 100644
--- a/langchain/document_loaders/directory.py
+++ b/langchain/document_loaders/directory.py
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ class DirectoryLoader(BaseLoader):
     def load(self) -> List[Document]:
         """Load documents."""
         p = Path(self.path)
+        if not p.exists():
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f"Directory not found: '{self.path}'")
+        if not p.is_dir():
+            raise ValueError(f"Expected directory, got file: '{self.path}'")
+
         docs: List[Document] = []
         items = list(p.rglob(self.glob) if self.recursive else p.glob(self.glob))
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/document_loaders/test_directory.py b/tests/unit_tests/document_loaders/test_directory.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fadecf3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/document_loaders/test_directory.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import pytest
+
+from langchain.document_loaders import DirectoryLoader
+
+
+def test_raise_error_if_path_not_exist() -> None:
+    loader = DirectoryLoader("./not_exist_directory")
+    with pytest.raises(FileNotFoundError) as e:
+        loader.load()
+
+    assert str(e.value) == "Directory not found: './not_exist_directory'"
+
+
+def test_raise_error_if_path_is_not_directory() -> None:
+    loader = DirectoryLoader(__file__)
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e:
+        loader.load()
+
+    assert str(e.value) == f"Expected directory, got file: '{__file__}'"