diff --git a/tfinstall/tfinstall.go b/tfinstall/tfinstall.go
index 5657865f..0301e765 100644
--- a/tfinstall/tfinstall.go
+++ b/tfinstall/tfinstall.go
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ func latestVersion() (string, error) {
 		return "", err
 	}
 
+	if resp.CurrentVersion == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("could not determine latest version of terraform using checkpoint: CHECKPOINT_DISABLE may be set")
+	}
+
 	return resp.CurrentVersion, nil
 }