diff --git a/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5_utils.py b/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5_utils.py
index a893746ef..79ed45d8c 100644
--- a/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5_utils.py
+++ b/src/hdmf/backends/hdf5/h5_utils.py
@@ -310,20 +310,30 @@ def _check_compression_options(self):
             if 'compression_opts' in self.__iosettings:
                 if self.__iosettings['compression'] == 'gzip':
                     if self.__iosettings['compression_opts'] not in range(10):
-                        raise ValueError("GZIP compression_opts setting must be an integer from 0-9, " +
+                        raise ValueError("GZIP compression_opts setting must be an integer from 0-9, "
                                          "not " + str(self.__iosettings['compression_opts']))
                 elif self.__iosettings['compression'] == 'lzf':
                     if self.__iosettings['compression_opts'] is not None:
                         raise ValueError("LZF compression filter accepts no compression_opts")
                 elif self.__iosettings['compression'] == 'szip':
-                    if not isinstance(self.__iosettings['compression_opts'], tuple) or \
-                                    len(self.__iosettings['compression_opts']) != 2:
-                        raise ValueError("SZIP compression filter compression_opts" +
-                                         " must be a 2-tuple ('ec'|'nn', even integer 0-32")
+                    szip_opts_error = False
+                    # Check that we have a tuple
+                    szip_opts_error |= not isinstance(self.__iosettings['compression_opts'], tuple)
+                    # Check that we have a tuple of the right length and correct settings
+                    if not szip_opts_error:
+                        try:
+                            szmethod, szpix = self.__iosettings['compression_opts']
+                            szip_opts_error |= (szmethod not in ('ec', 'nn'))
+                            szip_opts_error |= (not (0 < szpix <= 32 and szpix % 2 == 0))
+                        except ValueError:  # ValueError is raised if tuple does not have the right length to unpack
+                            szip_opts_error = True
+                    if szip_opts_error:
+                        raise ValueError("SZIP compression filter compression_opts"
+                                         " must be a 2-tuple ('ec'|'nn', even integer 0-32).")
             # Warn if compressor other than gzip is being used
             if self.__iosettings['compression'] != 'gzip':
-                warnings.warn(str(self.__iosettings['compression']) + " compression may not be available" +
-                              "on all installations of HDF5. Use of gzip is recommended to ensure portability of" +
+                warnings.warn(str(self.__iosettings['compression']) + " compression may not be available"
+                              "on all installations of HDF5. Use of gzip is recommended to ensure portability of"
                               "the generated HDF5 files.")
 
     @staticmethod
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_io_hdf5_h5tools.py b/tests/unit/test_io_hdf5_h5tools.py
index 37f8967fb..2202ea46e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_io_hdf5_h5tools.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_io_hdf5_h5tools.py
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def test_warning_on_non_gzip_compression(self):
                             compression='gzip')
             self.assertEqual(len(w), 0)
             self.assertEqual(dset.io_settings['compression'], 'gzip')
-        # Make sure no warning is issued when using szip (if installed)
+        # Make sure a warning is issued when using szip (even if installed)
         if "szip" in h5py_filters.encode:
             with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
                 dset = H5DataIO(np.arange(30),
@@ -452,7 +452,7 @@ def test_warning_on_non_gzip_compression(self):
         else:
             with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
                 H5DataIO(np.arange(30), compression='szip', compression_opts=('ec', 16))
-        # Make sure no warning is issued when using lzf
+        # Make sure a warning is issued when using lzf compression
         with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w:
             dset = H5DataIO(np.arange(30),
                             compression='lzf')
@@ -494,6 +494,12 @@ def test_value_error_on_incompatible_compression_opts(self):
         # Make sure we warn if szip with gzip compression option is used
         with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
             H5DataIO(np.arange(30), compression='szip', compression_opts=4)
+        # Make sure szip raises a ValueError if bad options are used (odd compression option)
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            H5DataIO(np.arange(30), compression='szip', compression_opts=('ec', 3))
+        # Make sure szip raises a ValueError if bad options are used (bad methos)
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            H5DataIO(np.arange(30), compression='szip', compression_opts=('bad_method', 16))
 
     def test_warning_on_linking_of_regular_array(self):
         with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as w: