diff --git a/src/Container/Capsule.php b/src/Container/Capsule.php
index 28634c42..9b65d4c2 100644
--- a/src/Container/Capsule.php
+++ b/src/Container/Capsule.php
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 namespace Bow\Container;
 
 use ArrayAccess;
+use Bow\Container\Exception\ContainerException;
 use Closure;
 use InvalidArgumentException;
 use ReflectionClass;
@@ -86,14 +87,19 @@ public function makeWith(string $key, array $parameters = []): mixed
      *
      * @param  string $key
      * @return mixed
-     * @throws
+     * @throws ContainerException when $key is an interface or abstract class without a binding
+     * @throws \ReflectionException when $key is not a class at all
      */
     private function resolve(string $key): mixed
     {
         $reflection = new ReflectionClass($key);
 
+        // An interface or abstract class with no binding cannot be built.
+        // Returning the key here handed a *string* to every caller expecting
+        // an instance, which surfaced far away as a TypeError in the
+        // controller injector. Fail here, naming the missing binding.
         if (!$reflection->isInstantiable()) {
-            return $key;
+            throw ContainerException::notInstantiable($key);
         }
 
         $constructor = $reflection->getConstructor();
diff --git a/src/Container/Exception/ContainerException.php b/src/Container/Exception/ContainerException.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38f80808
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Container/Exception/ContainerException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Bow\Container\Exception;
+
+use RuntimeException;
+
+/**
+ * Raised when the container cannot build a dependency.
+ */
+class ContainerException extends RuntimeException
+{
+    /**
+     * The key asked of the container could not be turned into an instance
+     * because it is an interface or an abstract class with no binding.
+     *
+     * @param  string $key
+     * @return ContainerException
+     */
+    public static function notInstantiable(string $key): ContainerException
+    {
+        $kind = interface_exists($key) ? 'interface' : 'abstract class';
+
+        return new static(sprintf(
+            'Cannot resolve [%s]: it is an %s and no binding is registered for it. '
+            . 'Bind a concrete implementation, for example app()->bind(%s::class, Concrete::class).',
+            $key,
+            $kind,
+            $key
+        ));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/Container/CapsuleTest.php b/tests/Container/CapsuleTest.php
index 08fc65c2..661d1c69 100644
--- a/tests/Container/CapsuleTest.php
+++ b/tests/Container/CapsuleTest.php
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 namespace Bow\Tests\Container;
 
 use Bow\Container\Capsule;
+use Bow\Container\Exception\ContainerException;
+use Bow\Tests\Container\Stubs\AbstractRepository;
 use Bow\Tests\Container\Stubs\FileLogger;
 use Bow\Tests\Container\Stubs\LoggerInterface;
 use Bow\Tests\Container\Stubs\MyClass;
@@ -217,6 +219,52 @@ public function test_array_access_offset_unset()
         $capsule->make('removable');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Regression: make() on an interface with no binding used to return the
+     * interface *name* (a string), which then blew up far away as
+     * "Compass::getInjectParameter(): Return value must be of type ?object,
+     * string returned" when a controller depended on that interface.
+     */
+    public function test_make_unbound_interface_throws_a_clear_exception()
+    {
+        $capsule = new Capsule();
+
+        $this->expectException(ContainerException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage(PaymentGatewayInterface::class);
+
+        $capsule->make(PaymentGatewayInterface::class);
+    }
+
+    public function test_make_unbound_abstract_class_throws_a_clear_exception()
+    {
+        $capsule = new Capsule();
+
+        $this->expectException(ContainerException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('abstract class');
+
+        $capsule->make(AbstractRepository::class);
+    }
+
+    public function test_make_with_unbound_interface_throws_a_clear_exception()
+    {
+        $capsule = new Capsule();
+
+        $this->expectException(ContainerException::class);
+
+        $capsule->makeWith(PaymentGatewayInterface::class, []);
+    }
+
+    public function test_dependency_on_unbound_interface_throws_a_clear_exception()
+    {
+        // OrderService needs a PaymentGatewayInterface; nothing is bound.
+        $capsule = new Capsule();
+
+        $this->expectException(ContainerException::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage(PaymentGatewayInterface::class);
+
+        $capsule->make(OrderService::class);
+    }
+
     public function test_make_with_parameters()
     {
         $capsule = new Capsule();
diff --git a/tests/Container/Stubs/AbstractRepository.php b/tests/Container/Stubs/AbstractRepository.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a0f1ad1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/Container/Stubs/AbstractRepository.php
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Bow\Tests\Container\Stubs;
+
+abstract class AbstractRepository
+{
+    abstract public function find(int $id): ?array;
+}