diff --git a/csv-generator/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkiverse/operatorsdk/csv/deployment/CSVProcessor.java b/csv-generator/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkiverse/operatorsdk/csv/deployment/CSVProcessor.java
index ca85ff68c..838b3103e 100644
--- a/csv-generator/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkiverse/operatorsdk/csv/deployment/CSVProcessor.java
+++ b/csv-generator/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkiverse/operatorsdk/csv/deployment/CSVProcessor.java
@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ CSVMetadataBuildItem gatherCSVMetadata(CombinedIndexBuildItem combinedIndexBuild
                     // figure out which group should be used to generate CSV
                     final var name = reconcilerInfo.name();
                     final var config = controllerConfigs.get(name);
+                    if(config == null) {
+                        throw new IllegalStateException("Missing configuration for reconciler " + name);
+                    }
                     final var csvMetadata = getCSVMetadata(reconcilerInfo.classInfo(), name, index);
                     csvGroupMetadata.put(csvMetadata.name, csvMetadata);
                     final var resourceFullName = config.getResourceTypeName();