diff --git a/src/spec-node/dockerfileUtils.ts b/src/spec-node/dockerfileUtils.ts
index 0f34476c7..2a07023aa 100644
--- a/src/spec-node/dockerfileUtils.ts
+++ b/src/spec-node/dockerfileUtils.ts
@@ -227,6 +227,10 @@ export function ensureDockerfileHasFinalStageName(dockerfile: string, defaultLas
 
 	// Find the last line that starts with "FROM" (possibly preceeded by white-space)
 	const fromLines = [...dockerfile.matchAll(findFromLines)];
+	if (fromLines.length === 0) {
+		throw new Error('Error parsing Dockerfile: Dockerfile contains no FROM instructions');
+	}
+
 	const lastFromLineMatch = fromLines[fromLines.length - 1];
 	const lastFromLine = lastFromLineMatch.groups?.line as string;
 
diff --git a/src/test/dockerfileUtils.test.ts b/src/test/dockerfileUtils.test.ts
index bd9489ddc..979375b91 100644
--- a/src/test/dockerfileUtils.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/dockerfileUtils.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { assert } from 'chai';
+import { assert, expect } from 'chai';
 import { imageMetadataLabel, internalGetImageBuildInfoFromDockerfile } from '../spec-node/imageMetadata';
 import { ensureDockerfileHasFinalStageName, extractDockerfile, findBaseImage, findUserStatement, supportsBuildContexts } from '../spec-node/dockerfileUtils';
 import { ImageDetails } from '../spec-shutdown/dockerUtils';
@@ -143,6 +143,16 @@ RUN another command
             });
         });
     });
+
+    describe('without any from stage (invalid Dockerfile)', () => {
+        it('should throw a descriptive error', () => {
+            const dockerfile = `
+RUN some command
+`;
+            expect(() => ensureDockerfileHasFinalStageName(dockerfile, 'placeholder')).to.throw('Error parsing Dockerfile: Dockerfile contains no FROM instructions');
+        });
+    });
+
 });
 
 describe('getImageBuildInfo', () => {