diff --git a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler.py b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler.py
index c9d031c06c0..06dd8040e03 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler.py
@@ -1677,6 +1677,13 @@ async def aspirate96(
       containers = resource.get_all_items() if resource.num_items > 1 else [resource.get_item(0)]
     elif isinstance(resource, Container):
       containers = [resource]
+    elif isinstance(resource, list) and all(isinstance(w, Well) for w in resource):
+      containers = resource
+    else:
+      raise TypeError(
+        f"Resource must be a Plate, Container, or list of Wells, got {type(resource)} "
+        f" for {resource}"
+      )
 
     if len(containers) == 1:  # single container
       container = containers[0]
@@ -1814,10 +1821,17 @@ async def dispense96(
     containers: Sequence[Container]
     if isinstance(resource, Plate):
       if resource.has_lid():
-        raise ValueError("Dispensing to plate with lid")
+        raise ValueError("Dispensing to plate with lid is not possible. Remove the lid first.")
       containers = resource.get_all_items() if resource.num_items > 1 else [resource.get_item(0)]
     elif isinstance(resource, Container):
       containers = [resource]
+    elif isinstance(resource, list) and all(isinstance(w, Well) for w in resource):
+      containers = resource
+    else:
+      raise TypeError(
+        f"Resource must be a Plate, Container, or list of Wells, got {type(resource)} "
+        f"for {resource}"
+      )
 
     # if we have enough liquid in the tip, remove it from the tip tracker for accounting.
     # if we do not (for example because the plunger was up on tip pickup), and we
diff --git a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler_tests.py b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler_tests.py
index fa9f9664939..c1121e88b57 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler_tests.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/liquid_handling/liquid_handler_tests.py
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
   hamilton_96_tiprack_300uL_filter,
   hamilton_96_tiprack_1000uL_filter,
 )
+from pylabrobot.resources.revvity.plates import Revvity_384_wellplate_28ul_Ub
 from pylabrobot.resources.utils import create_ordered_items_2d
 from pylabrobot.resources.volume_tracker import (
   set_volume_tracking,
@@ -616,6 +617,37 @@ async def test_aspirate_dispense96(self):
       )
     )
 
+  async def test_dispense96_with_quadrant_well_list(self):
+    plate_384 = Revvity_384_wellplate_28ul_Ub(name="plate_384")
+    self.deck.assign_child_resource(plate_384, location=Coordinate(400, 100, 0))
+    quadrant_wells = plate_384.get_quadrant("tl")
+
+    await self.lh.pick_up_tips96(self.tip_rack)
+    await self.lh.aspirate96(self.plate, volume=10)
+
+    self.lh.backend.dispense96 = unittest.mock.AsyncMock()  # type: ignore
+    await self.lh.dispense96(quadrant_wells, 10)
+    self.lh.backend.dispense96.assert_called_with(  # type: ignore
+      dispense=MultiHeadDispensePlate(
+        wells=quadrant_wells,
+        offset=Coordinate.zero(),
+        tips=[self.lh.head96[i].get_tip() for i in range(96)],
+        volume=10,
+        flow_rate=None,
+        liquid_height=None,
+        blow_out_air_volume=None,
+        mix=None,
+      )
+    )
+
+  async def test_dispense96_well_list_mixed_parents(self):
+    plate2 = Cor_96_wellplate_360ul_Fb(name="plate2")
+    self.deck.assign_child_resource(plate2, location=Coordinate(400, 100, 0))
+    mixed = self.plate.get_all_items()[:48] + plate2.get_all_items()[:48]
+    await self.lh.pick_up_tips96(self.tip_rack)
+    with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+      await self.lh.dispense96(mixed, 10)
+
   async def test_transfer(self):
     t = self.tip_rack.get_item("A1").get_tip()
     self.lh.update_head_state({0: t})
@@ -1048,3 +1080,20 @@ async def test_96_head_volume_tracking_single_container(self):
     assert well.tracker.get_used_volume() == 10 * 96
 
     await self.lh.return_tips96()
+
+  async def test_96_head_volume_tracking_well_list(self):
+    plate_384 = Revvity_384_wellplate_28ul_Ub(name="plate_384")
+    self.deck.assign_child_resource(plate_384, location=Coordinate(600, 100, 0))
+    quadrant_wells = plate_384.get_quadrant("tl")
+    for well in quadrant_wells:
+      well.tracker.set_volume(10)
+
+    await self.lh.pick_up_tips96(self.tip_rack)
+    await self.lh.aspirate96(quadrant_wells, volume=10)
+    assert all(self.lh.head96[i].get_tip().tracker.get_used_volume() == 10 for i in range(96))
+    assert all(w.tracker.get_used_volume() == 0 for w in quadrant_wells)
+
+    await self.lh.dispense96(quadrant_wells, volume=10)
+    assert all(self.lh.head96[i].get_tip().tracker.get_used_volume() == 0 for i in range(96))
+    assert all(w.tracker.get_used_volume() == 10 for w in quadrant_wells)
+    await self.lh.return_tips96()