diff --git a/pyproj/database.pyx b/pyproj/database.pyx
index 3af1a80e6..f8c0bd07f 100644
--- a/pyproj/database.pyx
+++ b/pyproj/database.pyx
@@ -514,6 +514,9 @@ def query_geodetic_crs_from_datum(
     list[CRS]
     """
 
+    if pj_type is not None and not isinstance(pj_type, PJType):
+        pj_type = PJType.create(pj_type)
+
     cdef const char* c_crs_type = NULL
     if pj_type is None:
         pass
diff --git a/test/test_database.py b/test/test_database.py
index cc47e7678..3f00f5df0 100644
--- a/test/test_database.py
+++ b/test/test_database.py
@@ -272,6 +272,10 @@ def test_get_database_metadata__invalid():
 
 
 def test_query_geodetic_crs_from_datum():
+    crss = query_geodetic_crs_from_datum("EPSG", "EPSG", "1116", "GEOCENTRIC_CRS")
+    assert len(crss) == 1
+    assert crss[0].to_authority()[1] == "6317"
+
     crss = query_geodetic_crs_from_datum("EPSG", "EPSG", "1116", PJType.GEOCENTRIC_CRS)
     assert len(crss) == 1
     assert crss[0].to_authority()[1] == "6317"
@@ -304,6 +308,9 @@ def test_query_geodetic_crs_from_datum_invalid():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         query_geodetic_crs_from_datum("EPSG", "EPSG", "1116", PJType.PROJECTED_CRS)
 
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        query_geodetic_crs_from_datum("EPSG", "EPSG", "1116", "invalid string")
+
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         query_geodetic_crs_from_datum("EPSG", "EPSG", None)