diff --git a/R/parse_row_filters.R b/R/parse_row_filters.R
index 67fa5bb..f17e177 100644
--- a/R/parse_row_filters.R
+++ b/R/parse_row_filters.R
@@ -8,8 +8,21 @@ parse_row_filters <- function(row_filters) {
     return(NULL)
   }
 
-  if (!inherits(row_filters, "list")) {
-    cli::cli_abort("{.arg row_filters} must be a {.cls list}, not a {.cls {class(row_filters)}}.")
+  # Check if `row_filters` is a list or a character vector
+  if (!is.list(row_filters) && !is.character(row_filters)) {
+    cli::cli_abort("{.arg row_filters} must be a named {.cls list} or a named {.cls character} vector, not a {.cls {class(row_filters)}}.")
+  }
+  
+  # If it's a list, ensure it's depth 1 and elements are named
+  if (is.list(row_filters)) {
+    if (any(lengths(row_filters) > 1) || any(names(row_filters) == "")) {
+      cli::cli_abort("{.arg row_filters} must be a list of depth 1 with named elements.")
+    }
+  }
+  
+  # If it's a character vector, ensure it's named
+  if (is.character(row_filters) && any(names(row_filters) == "")) {
+    cli::cli_abort("{.arg row_filters} must be a named character vector.")
   }
 
   # check if any filters in list have length > 1