diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.js
index 6e7706543be..2c2cb404ac1 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.js
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ function plugin() {
           questionNode.children?.[0]?.value === '--text--';
         if (isStartOfQuestion) {
           questionTrees.push([questionNode]);
+        } else if (questionTrees.length === 0) {
+          throw Error('question text is missing in questions section');
         } else {
           questionTrees[questionTrees.length - 1].push(questionNode);
         }
diff --git a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
index a9d1f5651d7..629e0c1cff8 100644
--- a/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
+++ b/tools/challenge-parser/parser/plugins/add-video-question.test.js
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ describe('add-video-question plugin', () => {
   // 'The md is missing "x"', so it's obvious how to fix things.
   it('should throw if the subheadings are outside the question heading', () => {
     expect.assertions(1);
-    expect(() => plugin(videoOutOfOrderAST)).toThrow();
+    expect(() => plugin(videoOutOfOrderAST, file)).toThrow(
+      'question text is missing in questions section'
+    );
   });
 
   it('should NOT throw if there is no question', () => {