diff --git a/pydantic/utils.py b/pydantic/utils.py
index 51c0253..a1c6192 100644
--- a/pydantic/utils.py
+++ b/pydantic/utils.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from typing import (
     List,
     Mapping,
     MutableMapping,
+    NoReturn,
     Optional,
     Set,
     Tuple,
@@ -606,7 +607,10 @@ class ValueItems(Representation):
             items = dict.fromkeys(items, ...)
         else:
             class_name = getattr(items, '__class__', '???')
-            raise TypeError(f'Unexpected type of exclude value {class_name}')
+            assert_never(
+                items,
+                f'Unexpected type of exclude value {class_name}',
+            )
         return items
 
     @classmethod
@@ -726,6 +730,16 @@ def all_identical(left: Iterable[Any], right: Iterable[Any]) -> bool:
     return True
 
 
+def assert_never(obj: NoReturn, msg: str) -> NoReturn:
+    """
+    Helper to make sure that we have covered all possible types.
+
+    This is mostly useful for ``mypy``, docs:
+    https://mypy.readthedocs.io/en/latest/literal_types.html#exhaustive-checks
+    """
+    raise TypeError(msg)
+
+
 def get_unique_discriminator_alias(all_aliases: Collection[str], discriminator_key: str) -> str:
     """Validate that all aliases are the same and if that's the case return the alias"""
     unique_aliases = set(all_aliases)