diff --git a/.changeset/nine-experts-tan.md b/.changeset/nine-experts-tan.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..86c8523442ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/nine-experts-tan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'astro': patch
+---
+
+Throws a more helpful error when images are missing
diff --git a/packages/astro/src/content/vite-plugin-content-assets.ts b/packages/astro/src/content/vite-plugin-content-assets.ts
index f4b8ed98ec70..33084d6e392e 100644
--- a/packages/astro/src/content/vite-plugin-content-assets.ts
+++ b/packages/astro/src/content/vite-plugin-content-assets.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ export function astroContentAssetPropagationPlugin({
 					? fileURLToPath(new URL(importerParam, settings.config.root))
 					: importer;
 
-				const resolved = this.resolve(base, importerPath, { skipSelf: true, ...opts });
+				const resolved = await this.resolve(base, importerPath, { skipSelf: true, ...opts });
 				if (!resolved) {
 					throw new AstroError({
 						...AstroErrorData.ImageNotFound,