diff --git a/src/braket/circuits/circuit_helpers.py b/src/braket/circuits/circuit_helpers.py
index 5f493208b..d62ca19a6 100644
--- a/src/braket/circuits/circuit_helpers.py
+++ b/src/braket/circuits/circuit_helpers.py
@@ -23,10 +23,12 @@ def validate_circuit_and_shots(circuit: Circuit, shots: int) -> None:
         shots (int): shots to validate
 
     Raises:
-        ValueError: If no result types specified for circuit and `shots=0`.
-            See `braket.circuit.result_types`. Or, if `StateVector` or `Amplitude`
-            are specified as result types when `shots > 0`.
+        ValueError: If circuit has no instructions. Also, if no result types
+            specified for circuit and `shots=0`. See `braket.circuit.result_types`.
+            Or, if `StateVector` or `Amplitude` are specified as result types when `shots > 0`.
     """
+    if not circuit.instructions:
+        raise ValueError("Circuit must have instructions to run on a device")
     if not shots and not circuit.result_types:
         raise ValueError(
             "No result types specified for circuit and shots=0. See `braket.circuit.result_types`"
diff --git a/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_circuit_helpers.py b/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_circuit_helpers.py
index d6a91515f..4805ce009 100644
--- a/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_circuit_helpers.py
+++ b/test/unit_tests/braket/circuits/test_circuit_helpers.py
@@ -17,6 +17,16 @@
 from braket.circuits.circuit_helpers import validate_circuit_and_shots
 
 
+@pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
+def test_validate_circuit_and_shots_no_instructions():
+    validate_circuit_and_shots(Circuit(), 100)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
+def test_validate_circuit_and_shots_0_no_instructions():
+    validate_circuit_and_shots(Circuit(), 0)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.xfail(raises=ValueError)
 def test_validate_circuit_and_shots_0_no_results():
     validate_circuit_and_shots(Circuit().h(0), 0)