diff --git a/django/db/utils.py b/django/db/utils.py
index 6202a9a4aa..cb7f3d0f0b 100644
--- a/django/db/utils.py
+++ b/django/db/utils.py
@@ -151,11 +151,10 @@ class ConnectionHandler:
                     'ENGINE': 'django.db.backends.dummy',
                 },
             }
+        if DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS not in self._databases:
+            raise ImproperlyConfigured("You must define a '%s' database." % DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS)
         if self._databases[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS] == {}:
             self._databases[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS]['ENGINE'] = 'django.db.backends.dummy'
-
-        if DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS not in self._databases:
-            raise ImproperlyConfigured("You must define a '%s' database" % DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS)
         return self._databases
 
     def ensure_defaults(self, alias):
diff --git a/tests/db_utils/tests.py b/tests/db_utils/tests.py
index a6cfb43667..db58b58f33 100644
--- a/tests/db_utils/tests.py
+++ b/tests/db_utils/tests.py
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@ class ConnectionHandlerTests(SimpleTestCase):
         with self.assertRaisesMessage(ImproperlyConfigured, msg):
             conns[DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS].ensure_connection()
 
+    def test_no_default_database(self):
+        DATABASES = {'other': {}}
+        conns = ConnectionHandler(DATABASES)
+        msg = "You must define a 'default' database."
+        with self.assertRaisesMessage(ImproperlyConfigured, msg):
+            conns['other'].ensure_connection()
+
 
 class DatabaseErrorWrapperTests(TestCase):