diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/discovery/core.py b/confluent_server/confluent/discovery/core.py
index d2e8b96c..cbf625cf 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/discovery/core.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/discovery/core.py
@@ -691,6 +691,10 @@ def get_enclosure_chain_head(nodename, cfg):
         if ne in members:
             raise exc.InvalidArgumentException(
                 'Circular chain that includes ' + nodename)
+        if not cfg.is_node(ne):
+            raise exc.InvalidArgumentException(
+                '{0} is chained to nonexistent node {1} '.format(
+                    nodename, ne))
         nodename = ne
         members.append(nodename)
     return nodename