diff --git a/api/api/views.py b/api/api/views.py
index 8a993a4..329dc58 100644
--- a/api/api/views.py
+++ b/api/api/views.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from rest_framework.decorators import api_view
 from rest_framework.response import Response
 from rest_framework import status
 from .tasks import save_and_classify
+from freqsplit.input.format_checker import is_supported_format
 
 UPLOAD_DIR = "/tmp/freqsplit"
 
@@ -18,6 +19,10 @@ def upload_audio(request):
     
     audio_file = request.FILES['file']
     
+    # Check file format before proceeding
+    if not is_supported_format(audio_file.name):
+        return Response({"error": "Unsupported file format"}, status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST)
+    
     # Generate a unique ID for this upload
     file_uuid = str(uuid.uuid4())[:8]