diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/PluginInfo.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/PluginInfo.java
index 24b7427203f5b..b6030f4ded5e5 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/PluginInfo.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/plugins/PluginInfo.java
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ public List<SemverRange> getOpenSearchVersionRanges() {
      */
     public String getOpenSearchVersionRangesString() {
         if (opensearchVersionRanges == null || opensearchVersionRanges.isEmpty()) {
-            return "";
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Opensearch version ranges list cannot be empty");
         }
         if (opensearchVersionRanges.size() == 1) {
             return opensearchVersionRanges.get(0).toString();