diff --git a/sigstore/verify/verifier.py b/sigstore/verify/verifier.py
index 6d4f56d42..efe8e2ecf 100644
--- a/sigstore/verify/verifier.py
+++ b/sigstore/verify/verifier.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 from sigstore._internal.timestamp import TimestampSource, TimestampVerificationResult
 from sigstore._internal.trust import KeyringPurpose
 from sigstore._utils import base64_encode_pem_cert, sha256_digest
-from sigstore.errors import CertValidationError, VerificationError
+from sigstore.errors import CertValidationError, MetadataError, VerificationError
 from sigstore.hashes import Hashed
 from sigstore.models import Bundle, ClientTrustConfig, TrustedRoot
 from sigstore.verify.policy import VerificationPolicy
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ def __init__(self, *, trusted_root: TrustedRoot):
 
         # this is an ugly hack needed for verifying "detached" materials
         # In reality we should be choosing the rekor instance based on the logid
+        if not trusted_root._inner.tlogs:
+            raise MetadataError("No transparency logs found in trusted root")
         url = trusted_root._inner.tlogs[0].base_url
         self._rekor = RekorClient(url)
 
diff --git a/test/unit/verify/test_verifier.py b/test/unit/verify/test_verifier.py
index 81287e7f6..673564533 100644
--- a/test/unit/verify/test_verifier.py
+++ b/test/unit/verify/test_verifier.py
@@ -24,12 +24,43 @@
 
 from sigstore._internal.trust import CertificateAuthority
 from sigstore.dsse import StatementBuilder, Subject
-from sigstore.errors import CertValidationError, VerificationError
+from sigstore.errors import CertValidationError, MetadataError, VerificationError
 from sigstore.models import Bundle
 from sigstore.verify import policy
 from sigstore.verify.verifier import Verifier
 
 
+def test_verifier_init_no_transparency_logs():
+    """
+    `Verifier.__init__` raises a structured `MetadataError` (rather than an
+    unhandled `IndexError`) when given a `trusted_root` with no
+    transparency logs. See #1822.
+    """
+    trusted_root = pretend.stub(
+        get_fulcio_certs=pretend.call_recorder(lambda: []),
+        _inner=pretend.stub(tlogs=[]),
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(MetadataError, match="No transparency logs"):
+        Verifier(trusted_root=trusted_root)
+
+
+def test_verifier_init_with_transparency_logs():
+    """
+    `Verifier.__init__` succeeds and picks the first transparency log's
+    `base_url` when `trusted_root` has at least one, proving the new
+    `MetadataError` guard doesn't affect the happy path.
+    """
+    tlog = pretend.stub(base_url="https://rekor.example.com")
+    trusted_root = pretend.stub(
+        get_fulcio_certs=pretend.call_recorder(lambda: []),
+        _inner=pretend.stub(tlogs=[tlog]),
+    )
+
+    verifier = Verifier(trusted_root=trusted_root)
+    assert verifier._rekor.url == "https://rekor.example.com/api/v1"
+
+
 @pytest.mark.production
 def test_verifier_production():
     verifier = Verifier.production()