diff --git a/src/ape_ethereum/provider.py b/src/ape_ethereum/provider.py
index 8359729a09..58bba04dde 100644
--- a/src/ape_ethereum/provider.py
+++ b/src/ape_ethereum/provider.py
@@ -1340,7 +1340,7 @@ def uri(self) -> str:
             else:
                 raise TypeError(f"Not an URI: {uri}")
 
-        config = self.config.model_dump().get(self.network.ecosystem.name, None)
+        config: dict = self.config.get(self.network.ecosystem.name, None)
         if config is None:
             if rpc := self._get_random_rpc():
                 return rpc
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@ def uri(self) -> str:
             raise ProviderError(f"Please configure a URL for '{self.network_choice}'.")
 
         # Use value from config file
-        network_config = config.get(self.network.name) or DEFAULT_SETTINGS
+        network_config: dict = (config or {}).get(self.network.name) or DEFAULT_SETTINGS
 
         if "url" in network_config:
             raise ConfigError("Unknown provider setting 'url'. Did you mean 'uri'?")
@@ -1370,10 +1370,11 @@ def uri(self) -> str:
 
         settings_uri = network_config.get(key, DEFAULT_SETTINGS["uri"])
         if _is_uri(settings_uri):
+            # Is true if HTTP, WS, or IPC.
             return settings_uri
 
-        # Likely was an IPC Path (or websockets) and will connect that way.
-        return super().http_uri or ""
+        # Is not HTTP, WS, or IPC. Raise an error.
+        raise ConfigError(f"Invalid URI (not HTTP, WS, or IPC): {settings_uri}")
 
     @property
     def http_uri(self) -> Optional[str]:
diff --git a/tests/functional/geth/test_provider.py b/tests/functional/geth/test_provider.py
index 57cb676451..93e8c550ca 100644
--- a/tests/functional/geth/test_provider.py
+++ b/tests/functional/geth/test_provider.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import re
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import cast
 
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 from ape.exceptions import (
     APINotImplementedError,
     BlockNotFoundError,
+    ConfigError,
     ContractLogicError,
     NetworkMismatchError,
     ProviderError,
@@ -127,6 +129,23 @@ def test_uri_non_dev_and_not_configured(mocker, ethereum):
     assert actual == expected
 
 
+def test_uri_invalid(geth_provider, project, ethereum):
+    settings = geth_provider.provider_settings
+    geth_provider.provider_settings = {}
+    value = "I AM NOT A URI OF ANY KIND!"
+    config = {"node": {"ethereum": {"local": {"uri": value}}}}
+
+    try:
+        with project.temp_config(**config):
+            # Assert we use the config value.
+            expected = rf"Invalid URI \(not HTTP, WS, or IPC\): {re.escape(value)}"
+            with pytest.raises(ConfigError, match=expected):
+                _ = geth_provider.uri
+
+    finally:
+        geth_provider.provider_settings = settings
+
+
 @geth_process_test
 def test_repr_connected(geth_provider):
     actual = repr(geth_provider)