diff --git a/internal/db/p2p.go b/internal/db/p2p.go
index 573c77d677..599b8e2a89 100644
--- a/internal/db/p2p.go
+++ b/internal/db/p2p.go
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ func (db *DB) Connect(
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if db.p2p == nil {
+		return ErrNoP2P
+	}
 	return db.p2p.Connect(ctx, addresses)
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/db/p2p_test.go b/internal/db/p2p_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..68904f361a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/db/p2p_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+// Copyright 2026 Democratized Data Foundation
+//
+// Use of this software is governed by the Business Source License
+// included in the file licenses/BSL.txt.
+//
+// As of the Change Date specified in that file, in accordance with
+// the Business Source License, use of this software will be governed
+// by the Apache License, Version 2.0, included in the file
+// licenses/APL.txt.
+
+package db
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestDB_Connect_WithoutP2P_ReturnsError tests that an error will be returned if
+// Conneect is called with P2P disabled.
+func TestDB_Connect_WithoutP2P_ReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	db := &DB{} // P2P is nil
+
+	err := db.Connect(context.Background(), []string{"/ip4/0.0.0.0/tcp/9171/p2p/12D3KooWBogusPeerID"})
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrNoP2P)
+}