diff --git a/R/tm_data_table.R b/R/tm_data_table.R
index da9a0f446..ad20cc078 100644
--- a/R/tm_data_table.R
+++ b/R/tm_data_table.R
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #' Data Table Viewer Teal Module
 #'
 #' A data table viewer shows the data using a paginated table.
+#' specifically designed for use with `data.frames`.
 #' @md
 #'
 #' @inheritParams teal::module
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@
 #' @param datasets_selected (`character`) A vector of datasets which should be
 #'   shown and in what order. Names in the vector have to correspond with datasets names.
 #'   If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.
+#'   Note: Only datasets of the `data.frame` class are compatible;
+#'   using other types will cause an error.
 #' @param dt_args (named `list`) Additional arguments to be passed to `DT::datatable`
 #'   (must not include `data` or `options`).
 #' @param dt_options (named `list`) The `options` argument to `DT::datatable`. By default
diff --git a/R/tm_missing_data.R b/R/tm_missing_data.R
index 029262c26..c8b502da9 100644
--- a/R/tm_missing_data.R
+++ b/R/tm_missing_data.R
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #' Missing data module
 #'
 #' Present analysis of missing observations and patients.
+#' specifically designed for use with `data.frames`.
 #'
 #' @inheritParams teal::module
 #' @inheritParams shared_params
diff --git a/R/tm_variable_browser.R b/R/tm_variable_browser.R
index d1ac35333..705a1b229 100644
--- a/R/tm_variable_browser.R
+++ b/R/tm_variable_browser.R
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #'
 #' The variable browser provides a table with variable names and labels and a
 #' plot that visualizes the content of a particular variable.
+#' specifically designed for use with `data.frames`.
 #'
 #' @details Numeric columns with fewer than 30 distinct values can be treated as either factors
 #' or numbers with a checkbox allowing users to switch how they are treated (if < 6 unique values
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@
 #' @param datasets_selected (`character`) A vector of datasets which should be
 #'   shown and in what order. Names in the vector have to correspond with datasets names.
 #'   If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.
+#'   Note: Only datasets of the `data.frame` class are compatible; using other types will cause an error.
 #'
 #' @aliases
 #'   tm_variable_browser_ui,
@@ -191,7 +193,8 @@ srv_variable_browser <- function(id,
 
     checkmate::assert_character(datasets_selected)
     checkmate::assert_subset(datasets_selected, datanames)
-    if (length(datasets_selected) != 0L) {
+    if (!identical(datasets_selected, character(0))) {
+      checkmate::assert_subset(datasets_selected, datanames)
       datanames <- datasets_selected
     }
 
diff --git a/man/tm_data_table.Rd b/man/tm_data_table.Rd
index c0cb56c50..3f64e26b6 100644
--- a/man/tm_data_table.Rd
+++ b/man/tm_data_table.Rd
@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ dataset will initially be shown.}
 
 \item{datasets_selected}{(\code{character}) A vector of datasets which should be
 shown and in what order. Names in the vector have to correspond with datasets names.
-If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.}
+If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.
+Note: Only datasets of the \code{data.frame} class are compatible;
+using other types will cause an error.}
 
 \item{dt_args}{(named \code{list}) Additional arguments to be passed to \code{DT::datatable}
 (must not include \code{data} or \code{options}).}
@@ -46,6 +48,7 @@ into context. For example the \code{\link[shiny:helpText]{shiny::helpText()}} el
 }
 \description{
 A data table viewer shows the data using a paginated table.
+specifically designed for use with \code{data.frames}.
 }
 \details{
 The \code{DT} package has an option \code{DT.TOJSON_ARGS} to show \code{Inf} and \code{NA} in data tables. If this is something
diff --git a/man/tm_missing_data.Rd b/man/tm_missing_data.Rd
index 043fce15e..f39d398d2 100644
--- a/man/tm_missing_data.Rd
+++ b/man/tm_missing_data.Rd
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ into context. For example the \code{\link[shiny:helpText]{shiny::helpText()}} el
 }
 \description{
 Present analysis of missing observations and patients.
+specifically designed for use with \code{data.frames}.
 }
 \examples{
 
diff --git a/man/tm_variable_browser.Rd b/man/tm_variable_browser.Rd
index 1d5135639..3c79fe6fd 100644
--- a/man/tm_variable_browser.Rd
+++ b/man/tm_variable_browser.Rd
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ tm_variable_browser(
 
 \item{datasets_selected}{(\code{character}) A vector of datasets which should be
 shown and in what order. Names in the vector have to correspond with datasets names.
-If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.}
+If vector of length zero (default) then all datasets are shown.
+Note: Only datasets of the \code{data.frame} class are compatible; using other types will cause an error.}
 
 \item{parent_dataname}{(\code{character(1)}) If this \code{dataname} exists in \code{datasets_selected}
 then an extra checkbox will be shown to allow users to not show variables in other datasets
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ For more details see the vignette: \code{vignette("custom-ggplot2-arguments", pa
 \description{
 The variable browser provides a table with variable names and labels and a
 plot that visualizes the content of a particular variable.
+specifically designed for use with \code{data.frames}.
 }
 \details{
 Numeric columns with fewer than 30 distinct values can be treated as either factors