diff --git a/semantic_router/layer.py b/semantic_router/layer.py
index 297f6a3f5309b8b72b26d79cc28d8b8774ad9a82..5e99d3861d5e2e7794312a47e260a1fc06101577 100644
--- a/semantic_router/layer.py
+++ b/semantic_router/layer.py
@@ -186,7 +186,11 @@ class RouteLayer:
         results = self._query(text)
         top_class, top_class_scores = self._semantic_classify(results)
         # get chosen route object
-        route = [route for route in self.routes if route.name == top_class][0]
+        matching_routes = [route for route in self.routes if route.name == top_class]
+        if not matching_routes:
+            logger.error(f"No route found with name {top_class}. Check to see if any Routes have been defined.")
+            return RouteChoice()
+        route = matching_routes[0]
         threshold = (
             route.score_threshold
             if route.score_threshold is not None