diff --git a/cmd/cue/cmd/testdata/script/modtidy_not_found.txtar b/cmd/cue/cmd/testdata/script/modtidy_not_found.txtar
index 85c3a7e3928..cad398fab9f 100644
--- a/cmd/cue/cmd/testdata/script/modtidy_not_found.txtar
+++ b/cmd/cue/cmd/testdata/script/modtidy_not_found.txtar
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module: "main.org@v0"
 language: version: "v0.10.0"
 
 -- want-stderr --
-path "other.test" has no major version
+no versions found for module other.test@v0
 -- main.cue --
 package main
 
diff --git a/internal/mod/modload/update.go b/internal/mod/modload/update.go
index 9ab8c1944cb..28b117811e6 100644
--- a/internal/mod/modload/update.go
+++ b/internal/mod/modload/update.go
@@ -150,6 +150,10 @@ func resolveUpdateVersions(ctx context.Context, reg Registry, rs *modrequirement
 					possibleVersions = append(possibleVersions, v)
 				}
 			}
+			if len(possibleVersions) == 0 {
+				setError(fmt.Errorf("no versions found for module %s", v))
+				return
+			}
 			chosen := latestVersion(possibleVersions)
 			mv, err := module.NewVersion(mpath, chosen)
 			if err != nil {