diff --git a/cloudinit/net/dhcp.py b/cloudinit/net/dhcp.py
index 0e81b925e36..ed323d7fdab 100644
--- a/cloudinit/net/dhcp.py
+++ b/cloudinit/net/dhcp.py
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@ def maybe_perform_dhcp_discovery(distro, nic=None, dhcp_log_func=None):
         returned.
     """
     interface = nic or distro.fallback_interface
+    if interface is None:
+        LOG.debug("Skip dhcp_discovery: Unable to find fallback nic.")
+        raise NoDHCPLeaseInterfaceError()
+
     return distro.dhcp_client.dhcp_discovery(interface, dhcp_log_func, distro)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unittests/net/test_dhcp.py b/tests/unittests/net/test_dhcp.py
index 325b3983323..c6a3518445a 100644
--- a/tests/unittests/net/test_dhcp.py
+++ b/tests/unittests/net/test_dhcp.py
@@ -1318,3 +1318,10 @@ def test_dhcpcd_discovery_ib(
                 ),
             ]
         )
+
+
+class TestMaybePerformDhcpDiscovery:
+    def test_none_and_missing_fallback(self):
+        with pytest.raises(NoDHCPLeaseInterfaceError):
+            distro = mock.Mock(fallback_interface=None)
+            maybe_perform_dhcp_discovery(distro, None)