diff --git a/pkg/systemd/quadlet/quadlet.go b/pkg/systemd/quadlet/quadlet.go
index 1c9583b6a3..71b198223d 100644
--- a/pkg/systemd/quadlet/quadlet.go
+++ b/pkg/systemd/quadlet/quadlet.go
@@ -1858,6 +1858,9 @@ func handleLogOpt(unitFile *parser.UnitFile, groupName string, podman *PodmanCmd
 }
 
 func handleStorageSource(quadletUnitFile, serviceUnitFile *parser.UnitFile, source string, unitsInfoMap map[string]*UnitInfo, checkImage bool) (string, error) {
+	if source == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("source cannot be empty")
+	}
 	if source[0] == '.' {
 		var err error
 		source, err = getAbsolutePath(quadletUnitFile, source)
diff --git a/test/e2e/quadlet/mount-source-missing.container b/test/e2e/quadlet/mount-source-missing.container
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7824e39d17
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/e2e/quadlet/mount-source-missing.container
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+## assert-failed
+## assert-stderr-contains "source cannot be empty"
+
+[Container]
+Image=localhost/imagename
+Mount=/home:/home
diff --git a/test/e2e/quadlet_test.go b/test/e2e/quadlet_test.go
index e5bb020c78..f3c1dda2ce 100644
--- a/test/e2e/quadlet_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/quadlet_test.go
@@ -1142,6 +1142,8 @@ BOGUS=foo
 		Entry("Build - Neither WorkingDirectory nor File Key", "neither-workingdirectory-nor-file.build", "converting \"neither-workingdirectory-nor-file.build\": neither SetWorkingDirectory, nor File key specified"),
 		Entry("Build - No ImageTag Key", "no-imagetag.build", "converting \"no-imagetag.build\": no ImageTag key specified"),
 		Entry("emptyline.container", "emptyline.container", "converting \"emptyline.container\": no Image or Rootfs key specified"),
+
+		Entry("Mount - Missing source=...", "mount-source-missing.container", "converting \"mount-source-missing.container\": source cannot be empty"),
 	)
 
 	DescribeTable("Running success quadlet with ServiceName test case",