diff --git a/common/database_helpers.py b/common/database_helpers.py
index 204c78e8..b9106145 100644
--- a/common/database_helpers.py
+++ b/common/database_helpers.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 from sqlalchemy import asc, desc
 from sqlalchemy.orm import aliased
 
-from common.exceptions import MissingRecordError, BadFilterError, BadRequestError
+from common.exceptions import MissingRecordError, BadFilterError, BadRequestError, MultipleIncludeError
 from common.models.db_models import INVESTIGATIONUSER, INVESTIGATION, INSTRUMENT, FACILITYCYCLE, \
     INVESTIGATIONINSTRUMENT, FACILITY
 from common.session_manager import session_manager
@@ -215,7 +215,10 @@ def __init__(self, included_filters):
         self.included_filters = included_filters["include"]
 
     def apply_filter(self, query):
+        if not query.include_related_entities:
         query.include_related_entities = True
+        else:
+            raise MultipleIncludeError("Attempted multiple includes on a single query")
 
 
 class QueryFilterFactory(object):