diff --git a/torchvision/datasets/celeba.py b/torchvision/datasets/celeba.py
index e3ee8ee62ea..ae5d5d36867 100644
--- a/torchvision/datasets/celeba.py
+++ b/torchvision/datasets/celeba.py
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ def __init__(
         else:
             self.target_type = [target_type]
 
+        for t in self.target_type:
+            verify_str_arg(t, "target_type", ("attr", "identity", "bbox", "landmarks"))
+
         if not self.target_type and self.target_transform is not None:
             raise RuntimeError("target_transform is specified but target_type is empty")
 
@@ -185,9 +188,6 @@ def __getitem__(self, index: int) -> tuple[Any, Any]:
                 target.append(self.bbox[index, :])
             elif t == "landmarks":
                 target.append(self.landmarks_align[index, :])
-            else:
-                # TODO: refactor with utils.verify_str_arg
-                raise ValueError(f'Target type "{t}" is not recognized.')
 
         if self.transform is not None:
             X = self.transform(X)