diff --git a/samtranslator/model/api/api_generator.py b/samtranslator/model/api/api_generator.py
index fba368f8a4..04cf78e749 100644
--- a/samtranslator/model/api/api_generator.py
+++ b/samtranslator/model/api/api_generator.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     ApiGatewayApiKey,
 )
 from samtranslator.model.route53 import Route53RecordSetGroup
-from samtranslator.model.exceptions import InvalidResourceException, InvalidTemplateException
+from samtranslator.model.exceptions import InvalidResourceException, InvalidTemplateException, InvalidDocumentException
 from samtranslator.model.s3_utils.uri_parser import parse_s3_uri
 from samtranslator.region_configuration import RegionConfiguration
 from samtranslator.swagger.swagger import SwaggerEditor
@@ -980,6 +980,15 @@ def _openapi_postprocess(self, definition_body):
                             # add schema for the headers in options section for openapi3
                             if field in ["responses"]:
                                 options_path = definition_body["paths"][path]["options"]
+                                if options_path and not isinstance(options_path.get(field), dict):
+                                    raise InvalidDocumentException(
+                                        [
+                                            InvalidTemplateException(
+                                                "Value of responses in options method for path {} must be a "
+                                                "dictionary according to Swagger spec.".format(path)
+                                            )
+                                        ]
+                                    )
                                 if (
                                     options_path
                                     and options_path.get(field).get("200")
diff --git a/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.yaml b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..db21fc2c20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+Resources:
+  ApiWithInvalidPath:
+    Type: AWS::Serverless::Api
+    Properties:
+      StageName: Prod
+      Cors: "'*'"
+      OpenApiVersion: 3.0.1
+      DefinitionBody:
+        openapi: 3.0.1
+        info:
+          title: test invalid paths Api
+        paths:
+          /foo:
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.yaml b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b2a2e52368
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+Resources:
+  ApiWithInvalidPath:
+    Type: AWS::Serverless::Api
+    Properties:
+      StageName: Prod
+      Cors: "'*'"
+      OpenApiVersion: 3.0.1
+      DefinitionBody:
+        openapi: 3.0.1
+        info:
+          title: test invalid paths Api
+        paths:
+          /foo:
+            options:
+              responses:
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.yaml b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..596839e458
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/input/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+Resources:
+  ApiWithInvalidPath:
+    Type: AWS::Serverless::Api
+    Properties:
+      StageName: Prod
+      Cors: "'*'"
+      OpenApiVersion: 3.0.1
+      DefinitionBody:
+        openapi: 3.0.1
+        info:
+          title: test invalid paths Api
+        paths:
+          /foo:
+            options:
+              responses: invalid
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.json b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2aedc06844
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "errorMessage": "Invalid Serverless Application Specification document. Number of errors found: 1. Structure of the SAM template is invalid. Value of '/foo' path must be a dictionary according to Swagger spec."
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.json b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73a7f49ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_empty_responses.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "errorMessage": "Invalid Serverless Application Specification document. Number of errors found: 1. Structure of the SAM template is invalid. Value of responses in options method for path /foo must be a dictionary according to Swagger spec."
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.json b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73a7f49ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/translator/output/error_api_invalid_openapi_path_with_string_responses.json
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+{
+  "errorMessage": "Invalid Serverless Application Specification document. Number of errors found: 1. Structure of the SAM template is invalid. Value of responses in options method for path /foo must be a dictionary according to Swagger spec."
+}
\ No newline at end of file