diff --git a/src/cluster/__tests__/connectionBuilder.spec.js b/src/cluster/__tests__/connectionBuilder.spec.js
index d6f380723..a166544dd 100644
--- a/src/cluster/__tests__/connectionBuilder.spec.js
+++ b/src/cluster/__tests__/connectionBuilder.spec.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const { newLogger } = require('testHelpers')
 const connectionBuilder = require('../connectionBuilder')
 const Connection = require('../../network/connection')
+const { KafkaJSNonRetriableError } = require('../../errors')
 
 describe('Cluster > ConnectionBuilder', () => {
   let builder
@@ -59,4 +60,40 @@ describe('Cluster > ConnectionBuilder', () => {
     expect(connection.port).toEqual(8888)
     expect(connection.rack).toEqual('rack')
   })
+
+  it('throws an exception if brokers list is empty', () => {
+    expect(() => {
+      builder = connectionBuilder({
+        socketFactory,
+        brokers: [],
+        ssl,
+        sasl,
+        clientId,
+        connectionTimeout,
+        retry,
+        logger,
+      })
+    }).toThrow(
+      KafkaJSNonRetriableError,
+      'Failed to connect: expected brokers array and got nothing'
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('throws an exception if brokers is null', () => {
+    expect(() => {
+      builder = connectionBuilder({
+        socketFactory,
+        brokers: null,
+        ssl,
+        sasl,
+        clientId,
+        connectionTimeout,
+        retry,
+        logger,
+      })
+    }).toThrow(
+      KafkaJSNonRetriableError,
+      'Failed to connect: expected brokers array and got nothing'
+    )
+  })
 })
diff --git a/src/cluster/connectionBuilder.js b/src/cluster/connectionBuilder.js
index f21d8970e..bef85f554 100644
--- a/src/cluster/connectionBuilder.js
+++ b/src/cluster/connectionBuilder.js
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
 const Connection = require('../network/connection')
+const { KafkaJSNonRetriableError } = require('../errors')
+
+const validateBrokers = brokers => {
+  if (!brokers || brokers.length === 0) {
+    throw new KafkaJSNonRetriableError(`Failed to connect: expected brokers array and got nothing`)
+  }
+}
 
 module.exports = ({
   socketFactory,
@@ -14,6 +21,8 @@ module.exports = ({
   logger,
   instrumentationEmitter = null,
 }) => {
+  validateBrokers(brokers)
+
   const size = brokers.length
   let index = 0