diff --git a/ReactCommon/fabric/uimanager/ComponentDescriptorRegistry.cpp b/ReactCommon/fabric/uimanager/ComponentDescriptorRegistry.cpp
index a0eee148829..64a36c444ad 100644
--- a/ReactCommon/fabric/uimanager/ComponentDescriptorRegistry.cpp
+++ b/ReactCommon/fabric/uimanager/ComponentDescriptorRegistry.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,13 @@ ComponentDescriptor const &ComponentDescriptorRegistry::at(
 
   auto it = _registryByName.find(unifiedComponentName);
   if (it == _registryByName.end()) {
-    assert(providerRegistry_);
+    // TODO: T54849676 Refactor this condition when RN Fabric Android starts
+    // using ComponentDescriptorProviderRegistry class
+    if (!providerRegistry_) {
+      throw std::invalid_argument(
+          ("Unable to find componentDescriptor for " + unifiedComponentName)
+              .c_str());
+    }
 
     mutex_.unlock_shared();
     providerRegistry_->request(unifiedComponentName.c_str());