diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/api-report-alpha.md b/plugins/catalog-common/api-report-alpha.md
index 573b35d3b3..bd36b499fe 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/api-report-alpha.md
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/api-report-alpha.md
@@ -42,6 +42,21 @@ export const catalogPermissions: (
 // @alpha
 export function parseFilterExpression(
   expression: string,
+  options?: {
+    onParseError?: (
+      error: Error,
+      context: {
+        expression: string;
+      },
+    ) => void;
+    onEvaluateError?: (
+      error: Error,
+      context: {
+        expression: string;
+        entity: Entity;
+      },
+    ) => void;
+  },
 ): (entity: Entity) => boolean;
 
 // @alpha
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dbce5025b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Entity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
+import { createHasMatcher } from './createHasMatcher';
+
+describe('createHasMatcher', () => {
+  const empty1 = {
+    metadata: {},
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+  const empty2 = {
+    metadata: {
+      labels: {},
+      annotations: {},
+      links: [],
+    },
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+  const labels = {
+    metadata: {
+      labels: { a: 'b' },
+    },
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+  const annotations = {
+    metadata: {
+      annotations: { a: 'b' },
+    },
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+  const links = {
+    metadata: { links: [{}] },
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+
+  const err = jest.fn();
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('supports valid parameters', () => {
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels'], err)(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels'], err)(empty2)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels'], err)(labels)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['annotations'], err)(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['annotations'], err)(empty2)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['annotations'], err)(annotations)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['links'], err)(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['links'], err)(empty2)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['links'], err)(links)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('matches if ANY parameter matches', () => {
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels', 'links'], err)(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels', 'links'], err)(empty2)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels', 'links'], err)(labels)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels', 'links'], err)(links)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createHasMatcher(['labels', 'links'], err)(annotations)).toBe(false);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('emits errors properly, and skips over bad parameters', () => {
+    // throw if callback throws
+    expect(() =>
+      createHasMatcher(['labels', 'bar'], e => {
+        throw e;
+      }),
+    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+      `"'bar' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of 'labels','annotations','links'"`,
+    );
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // continue if callback does not throw, and skip over the bad parameter
+    let matcher = createHasMatcher(['labels', 'foo', 'bar'], err);
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        message: `'foo' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of 'labels','annotations','links'`,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        message: `'bar' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of 'labels','annotations','links'`,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(matcher(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(matcher(labels)).toBe(true);
+
+    // when no parameters at all match, just return true
+    matcher = createHasMatcher(['foo', 'bar'], err);
+    expect(matcher(empty1)).toBe(true);
+    expect(matcher(labels)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.ts
index 7b9eebba1c..f57316a65e 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createHasMatcher.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ import { EntityMatcherFn } from './types';
 /**
  * Matches on the non-empty presence of different parts of the entity
  */
-export function createHasMatcher(parameters: string[]): EntityMatcherFn {
+export function createHasMatcher(
+  parameters: string[],
+  onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
+): EntityMatcherFn {
   const allowedMatchers: Record<string, EntityMatcherFn> = {
     labels: entity => {
       return Object.keys(entity.metadata.labels ?? {}).length > 0;
@@ -33,16 +36,20 @@ export function createHasMatcher(parameters: string[]): EntityMatcherFn {
     },
   };
 
-  const matchers = parameters.map(parameter => {
+  const matchers = parameters.flatMap(parameter => {
     const matcher = allowedMatchers[parameter.toLocaleLowerCase('en-US')];
     if (!matcher) {
       const known = Object.keys(allowedMatchers).map(m => `'${m}'`);
-      throw new InputError(
-        `'${parameter}' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of ${known}`,
+      onParseError(
+        new InputError(
+          `'${parameter}' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of ${known}`,
+        ),
       );
+      return [];
     }
-    return matcher;
+    return [matcher];
   });
 
-  return entity => matchers.some(matcher => matcher(entity));
+  return entity =>
+    matchers.length ? matchers.some(matcher => matcher(entity)) : true;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4cb3094d62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Entity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
+import { createIsMatcher } from './createIsMatcher';
+
+describe('createIsMatcher', () => {
+  const empty = {
+    metadata: {},
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+  const orphan = {
+    metadata: {
+      annotations: { ['backstage.io/orphan']: 'true' },
+    },
+  } as unknown as Entity;
+
+  const err = jest.fn();
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('supports valid parameters', () => {
+    expect(createIsMatcher(['orphan'], err)(empty)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createIsMatcher(['orphan'], err)(orphan)).toBe(true);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('emits errors properly, and skips over bad parameters', () => {
+    // throw if callback throws
+    expect(() =>
+      createIsMatcher(['orphan', 'foo'], e => {
+        throw e;
+      }),
+    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+      `"'foo' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of 'orphan'"`,
+    );
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+
+    // continue if callback does not throw, and skip over the bad parameter
+    let matcher = createIsMatcher(['orphan', 'foo', 'bar'], err);
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2);
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        message: `'foo' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of 'orphan'`,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(err).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        message: `'bar' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of 'orphan'`,
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(matcher(empty)).toBe(false);
+    expect(matcher(orphan)).toBe(true);
+
+    // when no parameters at all match, just return true
+    matcher = createIsMatcher(['foo', 'bar'], err);
+    expect(matcher(empty)).toBe(true);
+    expect(matcher(orphan)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.ts
index 3802d6dbce..30bfe4eb15 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createIsMatcher.ts
@@ -20,22 +20,29 @@ import { EntityMatcherFn } from './types';
 /**
  * Matches on different semantic properties of the entity
  */
-export function createIsMatcher(parameters: string[]): EntityMatcherFn {
+export function createIsMatcher(
+  parameters: string[],
+  onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
+): EntityMatcherFn {
   const allowedMatchers: Record<string, EntityMatcherFn> = {
     orphan: entity =>
       Boolean(entity.metadata.annotations?.['backstage.io/orphan']),
   };
 
-  const matchers = parameters.map(parameter => {
+  const matchers = parameters.flatMap(parameter => {
     const matcher = allowedMatchers[parameter.toLocaleLowerCase('en-US')];
     if (!matcher) {
       const known = Object.keys(allowedMatchers).map(m => `'${m}'`);
-      throw new InputError(
-        `'${parameter}' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of ${known}`,
+      onParseError(
+        new InputError(
+          `'${parameter}' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of ${known}`,
+        ),
       );
+      return [];
     }
-    return matcher;
+    return [matcher];
   });
 
-  return entity => matchers.some(matcher => matcher(entity));
+  return entity =>
+    matchers.length ? matchers.some(matcher => matcher(entity)) : true;
 }
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f109acccd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Entity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
+import { createKindMatcher } from './createKindMatcher';
+
+describe('createKindMatcher', () => {
+  const component = { kind: 'Component' } as unknown as Entity;
+  const user = { kind: 'User' } as unknown as Entity;
+  const resource = { kind: 'Resource' } as unknown as Entity;
+
+  const err = jest.fn();
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('supports valid parameters', () => {
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['component'], err)(component)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['componenT'], err)(component)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['user'], err)(component)).toBe(false);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('matches if ANY parameter matches', () => {
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['user', 'component'], err)(user)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['user', 'component'], err)(component)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createKindMatcher(['user', 'component'], err)(resource)).toBe(false);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.ts
index 071746453e..4f7c475ebe 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createKindMatcher.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ import { EntityMatcherFn } from './types';
 /**
  * Matches on kind
  */
-export function createKindMatcher(parameters: string[]): EntityMatcherFn {
+export function createKindMatcher(
+  parameters: string[],
+  _onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
+): EntityMatcherFn {
   const items = parameters.map(p => p.toLocaleLowerCase('en-US'));
   return entity => items.includes(entity.kind.toLocaleLowerCase('en-US'));
 }
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..31c9af7e11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { Entity } from '@backstage/catalog-model';
+import { createTypeMatcher } from './createTypeMatcher';
+
+describe('createTypeMatcher', () => {
+  const empty1 = {} as unknown as Entity;
+  const empty2 = { spec: {} } as unknown as Entity;
+  const service = { spec: { type: 'service' } } as unknown as Entity;
+  const website = { spec: { type: 'website' } } as unknown as Entity;
+  const pipeline = { spec: { type: 'pipeline' } } as unknown as Entity;
+
+  const err = jest.fn();
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.clearAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  it('supports valid parameters', () => {
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service'], err)(empty1)).toBe(false);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service'], err)(empty2)).toBe(false);
+
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service'], err)(service)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['sErViCe'], err)(service)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service'], err)(service)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['website'], err)(service)).toBe(false);
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('matches if ANY parameter matches', () => {
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service', 'website'], err)(service)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service', 'website'], err)(website)).toBe(true);
+    expect(createTypeMatcher(['service', 'website'], err)(pipeline)).toBe(
+      false,
+    );
+
+    expect(err).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.ts
index d0e0f39c98..31f7a5a461 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/matrchers/createTypeMatcher.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ import { EntityMatcherFn } from './types';
 /**
  * Matches on spec.type
  */
-export function createTypeMatcher(parameters: string[]): EntityMatcherFn {
+export function createTypeMatcher(
+  parameters: string[],
+  _onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
+): EntityMatcherFn {
   const items = parameters.map(p => p.toLocaleLowerCase('en-US'));
   return entity => {
     const value = entity.spec?.type;
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.test.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.test.ts
index d8543c4e10..a53b84646e 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.test.ts
@@ -21,19 +21,34 @@ import {
 } from './parseFilterExpression';
 
 describe('parseFilterExpression', () => {
+  function run(expression: string) {
+    return parseFilterExpression(expression, {
+      onParseError(e: Error) {
+        throw e;
+      },
+    });
+  }
+
   it('supports "kind" expressions', () => {
     const component = { kind: 'Component' } as unknown as Entity;
     const user = { kind: 'User' } as unknown as Entity;
     const resource = { kind: 'Resource' } as unknown as Entity;
 
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:component')(component)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:componenT')(component)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:user')(component)).toBe(false);
+    expect(run('kind:user,component')(user)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('kind:user,component')(component)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('kind:user,component')(resource)).toBe(false);
+  });
 
-    // match ANY of the parameters
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:user,component')(user)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:user,component')(component)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('kind:user,component')(resource)).toBe(false);
+  it('supports "type" expressions', () => {
+    const empty = {} as unknown as Entity;
+    const service = { spec: { type: 'service' } } as unknown as Entity;
+    const website = { spec: { type: 'website' } } as unknown as Entity;
+    const pipeline = { spec: { type: 'pipeline' } } as unknown as Entity;
+
+    expect(run('type:service,website')(empty)).toBe(false);
+    expect(run('type:service,website')(service)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('type:service,website')(website)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('type:service,website')(pipeline)).toBe(false);
   });
 
   it('supports "is" expressions', () => {
@@ -46,123 +61,90 @@ describe('parseFilterExpression', () => {
       },
     } as unknown as Entity;
 
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('is:orphan')(empty)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('is:orphan')(orphan)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('is:orphan')(empty)).toBe(false);
+    expect(run('is:orphan')(orphan)).toBe(true);
 
-    expect(() =>
-      parseFilterExpression('is:orphan,bar'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run('is:orphan,bar')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"'bar' is not a valid parameter for 'is' filter expressions, expected one of 'orphan'"`,
     );
   });
 
   it('supports "has" expressions', () => {
-    const empty1 = {
+    const empty = {
       metadata: {},
     } as unknown as Entity;
-    const empty2 = {
-      metadata: {
-        labels: {},
-        annotations: {},
-        links: [],
-      },
-    } as unknown as Entity;
     const labels = {
-      metadata: {
-        labels: { a: 'b' },
-      },
+      metadata: { labels: { a: 'b' } },
     } as unknown as Entity;
     const annotations = {
-      metadata: {
-        annotations: { a: 'b' },
-      },
+      metadata: { annotations: { a: 'b' } },
     } as unknown as Entity;
     const links = {
       metadata: { links: [{}] },
     } as unknown as Entity;
 
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels')(empty1)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels')(empty2)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels')(labels)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('has:labels,links')(empty)).toBe(false);
+    expect(run('has:labels,links')(labels)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('has:labels,links')(links)).toBe(true);
+    expect(run('has:labels,links')(annotations)).toBe(false);
 
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:annotations')(empty1)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:annotations')(empty2)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:annotations')(annotations)).toBe(true);
-
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:links')(empty1)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:links')(empty2)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:links')(links)).toBe(true);
-
-    // match ANY of the parameters
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels,links')(empty1)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels,links')(empty2)).toBe(false);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels,links')(labels)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels,links')(links)).toBe(true);
-    expect(parseFilterExpression('has:labels,links')(annotations)).toBe(false);
-
-    expect(() =>
-      parseFilterExpression('has:labels,bar'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run('has:labels,bar')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"'bar' is not a valid parameter for 'has' filter expressions, expected one of 'labels','annotations','links'"`,
     );
   });
 
   it('rejects unknown keys', () => {
-    expect(() =>
-      parseFilterExpression('unknown:foo'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run('unknown:foo')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"'unknown' is not a valid filter expression key, expected one of 'kind','type','is','has'"`,
     );
   });
 
   it('rejects malformed inputs', () => {
-    expect(() => parseFilterExpression(':')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run(':')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"':' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
-    expect(() =>
-      parseFilterExpression(':a'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run(':a')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"':a' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
-    expect(() =>
-      parseFilterExpression('a:'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run('a:')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"'a:' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
   });
 });
 
 describe('splitFilterExpression', () => {
+  function run(expression: string) {
+    return splitFilterExpression(expression, e => {
+      throw e;
+    });
+  }
+
   it('properly splits into expression atoms', () => {
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('')).toEqual([]);
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('   ')).toEqual([]);
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('kind:component')).toEqual([
+    expect(run('')).toEqual([]);
+    expect(run('   ')).toEqual([]);
+    expect(run('kind:component')).toEqual([
       { key: 'kind', parameters: ['component'] },
     ]);
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('kind:component,user')).toEqual([
+    expect(run('kind:component,user')).toEqual([
       { key: 'kind', parameters: ['component', 'user'] },
     ]);
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('kind:component,user type:foo')).toEqual([
+    expect(run('kind:component,user type:foo')).toEqual([
       { key: 'kind', parameters: ['component', 'user'] },
       { key: 'type', parameters: ['foo'] },
     ]);
-    expect(splitFilterExpression('with:multiple:colons')).toEqual([
+    expect(run('with:multiple:colons')).toEqual([
       { key: 'with', parameters: ['multiple:colons'] },
     ]);
   });
 
   it('rejects malformed inputs', () => {
-    expect(() => splitFilterExpression(':')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run(':')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"':' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
-    expect(() =>
-      splitFilterExpression(':a'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run(':a')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"':a' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
-    expect(() =>
-      splitFilterExpression('a:'),
-    ).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
+    expect(() => run('a:')).toThrowErrorMatchingInlineSnapshot(
       `"'a:' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form"`,
     );
   });
diff --git a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.ts b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.ts
index d2b46f582e..ffd25d75d3 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.ts
+++ b/plugins/catalog-common/src/filter/parseFilterExpression.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ import { createHasMatcher } from './matrchers/createHasMatcher';
 
 const rootMatcherFactories: Record<
   string,
-  (parameters: string[]) => EntityMatcherFn
+  (
+    parameters: string[],
+    onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
+  ) => EntityMatcherFn
 > = {
   kind: createKindMatcher,
   type: createTypeMatcher,
@@ -43,11 +46,39 @@ const rootMatcherFactories: Record<
  * effectively an AND between the space separated parts, and an OR between comma
  * separated parameters. So the example filter string semantically means
  * "entities that are of either User or Group kind, and also are orphans".
+ *
+ * The `onParseError` callback is called whenever an error was encountered
+ * during initial parsing of the expression. If the callback throws,
+ * `parseFilterExpression` throws that same error. If the callback does not
+ * throw, the part of the input expression that had an error is ignored entirely
+ * and parsing continues.
+ *
+ * The `onEvaluateError` callback is called whenever an error was encountered
+ * during evaluation of the returned function. If the callback throws, the
+ * evaluation call throws the same error. If the callback does not throw, the
+ * whole evaluation returns false.
  */
 export function parseFilterExpression(
   expression: string,
+  options?: {
+    onParseError?: (
+      error: Error,
+      context: {
+        expression: string;
+      },
+    ) => void;
+    onEvaluateError?: (
+      error: Error,
+      context: {
+        expression: string;
+        entity: Entity;
+      },
+    ) => void;
+  },
 ): (entity: Entity) => boolean {
-  const parts = splitFilterExpression(expression);
+  const parts = splitFilterExpression(expression, e =>
+    options?.onParseError?.(e, { expression }),
+  );
 
   const matchers = parts.map(part => {
     const factory = rootMatcherFactories[part.key];
@@ -57,14 +88,17 @@ export function parseFilterExpression(
         `'${part.key}' is not a valid filter expression key, expected one of ${known}`,
       );
     }
-    return factory(part.parameters);
+    return factory(part.parameters, e =>
+      options?.onParseError?.(e, { expression }),
+    );
   });
 
   return (entity: Entity) => {
     return matchers.every(matcher => {
       try {
         return matcher(entity);
-      } catch {
+      } catch (e) {
+        options?.onEvaluateError?.(e, { expression, entity });
         return false;
       }
     });
@@ -73,6 +107,7 @@ export function parseFilterExpression(
 
 export function splitFilterExpression(
   expression: string,
+  onParseError: (error: Error) => void,
 ): Array<{ key: string; parameters: string[] }> {
   const words = expression
     .split(' ')
@@ -84,13 +119,16 @@ export function splitFilterExpression(
   for (const word of words) {
     const match = word.match(/^([^:]+):(.+)$/);
     if (!match) {
-      throw new InputError(
-        `'${word}' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form`,
+      onParseError(
+        new InputError(
+          `'${word}' is not a valid filter expression, expected 'key:parameter' form`,
+        ),
       );
+      continue;
     }
 
     const key = match[1];
-    const parameters = match[2].split(',');
+    const parameters = match[2].split(',').filter(Boolean); // silently ignore double commas
 
     result.push({ key, parameters });
   }
diff --git a/plugins/catalog/src/alpha/EntityOverviewPage.tsx b/plugins/catalog/src/alpha/EntityOverviewPage.tsx
index 02ec044975..5ef6b9a2e5 100644
--- a/plugins/catalog/src/alpha/EntityOverviewPage.tsx
+++ b/plugins/catalog/src/alpha/EntityOverviewPage.tsx
@@ -40,10 +40,21 @@ function CardWrapper(props: {
     } else if (typeof filter === 'function') {
       return subject => filter(subject);
     }
-    return parseFilterExpression(filter);
+    return parseFilterExpression(filter, {
+      onParseError(_error) {
+        // ignore silently
+      },
+      onEvaluateError(_error) {
+        // ignore silently
+      },
+    });
   }, [filter]);
 
-  return filterFn(entity) ? <>{element}</> : null;
+  return filterFn(entity) ? (
+    <Grid item md={6} xs={12}>
+      {element}
+    </Grid>
+  ) : null;
 }
 
 export function EntityOverviewPage(props: EntityOverviewPageProps) {
@@ -51,13 +62,12 @@ export function EntityOverviewPage(props: EntityOverviewPageProps) {
   return (
     <Grid container spacing={3} alignItems="stretch">
       {props.cards.map((card, index) => (
-        <Grid key={index} item md={6} xs={12}>
-          <CardWrapper
-            entity={entity}
-            element={card.element}
-            filter={card.filter}
-          />
-        </Grid>
+        <CardWrapper
+          key={index}
+          entity={entity}
+          element={card.element}
+          filter={card.filter}
+        />
       ))}
     </Grid>
   );