diff --git a/tests/func/test_api.py b/tests/func/test_api.py
index 6ba3aef47..41cd0f743 100644
--- a/tests/func/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/func/test_api.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import ruamel.yaml
 import pytest
 
 from dvc import api
-from dvc.api import SummonError
+from dvc.api import SummonError, UrlNotDvcRepoError
 from dvc.compat import fspath
 from dvc.exceptions import FileMissingError
 from dvc.main import main
@@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ def test_get_url_external(erepo_dir, remote_url):
     assert api.get_url("foo", repo=repo_url) == expected_url
 
 
+def test_get_url_git_only_repo_throws_exception(tmp_dir, scm):
+    tmp_dir.scm_gen({"foo": "foo"}, commit="initial")
+
+    with pytest.raises(UrlNotDvcRepoError) as exc_info:
+        api.get_url("foo", fspath(tmp_dir))
+
+    assert fspath(tmp_dir) in str(exc_info)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("remote_url", all_remote_params, indirect=True)
 def test_open(remote_url, tmp_dir, dvc):
     run_dvc("remote", "add", "-d", "upstream", remote_url)