diff --git a/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py b/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
index 143b1c187029..cf02d86c56b5 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/tools/parameters/validation.py
@@ -186,7 +186,9 @@ def __init__(self, message, length_min, length_max, negate):
         super().__init__(message, range_min=length_min, range_max=length_max, negate=negate)
 
     def validate(self, value, trans=None):
-        super().validate(len(value), trans)
+        if value is None:
+            raise ValueError("No value provided")
+        super().validate(len(value) if value else 0, trans)
 
 
 class DatasetOkValidator(Validator):
diff --git a/test/unit/app/tools/test_parameter_validation.py b/test/unit/app/tools/test_parameter_validation.py
index 2e0bf0ffe857..bddb0e325309 100644
--- a/test/unit/app/tools/test_parameter_validation.py
+++ b/test/unit/app/tools/test_parameter_validation.py
@@ -186,6 +186,14 @@ def test_LengthValidator(self):
             p.validate("bar")
         p.validate("f")
         p.validate("foobarbaz")
+        p = self._parameter_for(
+            xml="""
+<param name="blah" type="text" optional="false">
+    <validator type="length" min="2" max="8"/>
+</param>"""
+        )
+        with self.assertRaisesRegex(ValueError, "No value provided"):
+            p.validate(None)
 
     def test_InRangeValidator(self):
         p = self._parameter_for(