diff --git a/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php b/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
index 56e668411..09cee24bc 100644
--- a/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
+++ b/src/ORM/Search/SearchContext.php
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ class SearchContext
     protected $searchParams = [];
 
     /**
-     * The logical connective used to join WHERE clauses. Defaults to AND.
+     * The logical connective used to join WHERE clauses. Must be "AND".
+     * @deprecated 5.0
      * @var string
      */
     public $connective = 'AND';
@@ -146,6 +147,10 @@ class SearchContext
      */
     public function getQuery($searchParams, $sort = false, $limit = false, $existingQuery = null)
     {
+        if ($this->connective != "AND") {
+            throw new Exception("SearchContext connective '$this->connective' not supported after ORM-rewrite.");
+        }
+
         /** DataList $query */
         $query = null;
         if ($existingQuery) {
@@ -204,10 +209,6 @@ class SearchContext
             }
         }
 
-        if ($this->connective != "AND") {
-            throw new Exception("SearchContext connective '$this->connective' not supported after ORM-rewrite.");
-        }
-
         return $query;
     }