diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20240215-103838.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20240215-103838.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eb79c71ce14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20240215-103838.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Fixes
+body: Fix unexpected error message when git is not installed
+time: 2024-02-15T10:38:38.01821-07:00
+custom:
+  Author: jon-fearer
+  Issue: "9537"
diff --git a/core/dbt/task/debug.py b/core/dbt/task/debug.py
index ea0f636bd6c..21bac27069e 100644
--- a/core/dbt/task/debug.py
+++ b/core/dbt/task/debug.py
@@ -406,6 +406,17 @@ def test_git(self) -> SubtaskStatus:
                 details="git error",
                 summary_message="Error from git --help: {!s}".format(exc),
             )
+        except dbt_common.exceptions.CommandResultError as exc:
+            return SubtaskStatus(
+                log_msg=red("ERROR"),
+                run_status=RunStatus.Error,
+                details="git error",
+                summary_message=(
+                    "Error from git --help: {!s}\n"
+                    "Make sure that `git` is installed in your shell "
+                    "and that `git --help` can execute successfully."
+                ).format(exc),
+            )
         else:
             return SubtaskStatus(
                 log_msg=green("OK found"),