diff --git a/services/test-helpers.js b/services/test-helpers.js
index a892b57f6a9af..34fefdbd5f07d 100644
--- a/services/test-helpers.js
+++ b/services/test-helpers.js
@@ -187,6 +187,11 @@ function getServiceClassAuthOrigin(serviceClass, authOverride, configOverride) {
     return serviceClass.auth.authorizedOrigins
   } else {
     const mergedConfig = _.merge(runnerConfig, configOverride)
+    if (!mergedConfig.public.services[auth.serviceKey]) {
+      throw new TypeError(
+        `Missing service key defenition for ${auth.serviceKey}: Use an override if applicable.`,
+      )
+    }
     return [mergedConfig.public.services[auth.serviceKey].authorizedOrigins]
   }
 }