diff --git a/xarray/core/datatree.py b/xarray/core/datatree.py
index 98934f29b92..bc367a81a68 100644
--- a/xarray/core/datatree.py
+++ b/xarray/core/datatree.py
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ def _to_new_dataset(data: Dataset | Coordinates | None) -> Dataset:
     elif data is None:
         ds = Dataset()
     else:
-        raise TypeError(f"data object is not an xarray.Dataset, dict, or None: {data}")
+        raise TypeError(
+            f"data object is not an xarray.Dataset, Coordinates, or None: {data}"
+        )
     return ds
 
 
diff --git a/xarray/tests/test_datatree.py b/xarray/tests/test_datatree.py
index 19133bfd88d..524438a051f 100644
--- a/xarray/tests/test_datatree.py
+++ b/xarray/tests/test_datatree.py
@@ -201,6 +201,12 @@ def test_create_with_data(self) -> None:
         with pytest.raises(TypeError):
             DataTree(name="mary", dataset="junk")  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
+        with pytest.raises(
+            TypeError,
+            match=r"data object is not an xarray.Dataset, Coordinates, or None: \{\}",
+        ):
+            DataTree(name="mary", dataset={})  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+
     def test_set_data(self) -> None:
         john = DataTree(name="john")
         dat = xr.Dataset({"a": 0})