diff --git a/source/common/upstream/strict_dns_cluster.cc b/source/common/upstream/strict_dns_cluster.cc
index 71aa2b3c71e05..d1f4ef3039f18 100644
--- a/source/common/upstream/strict_dns_cluster.cc
+++ b/source/common/upstream/strict_dns_cluster.cc
@@ -138,8 +138,10 @@ void StrictDnsClusterImpl::ResolveTarget::startResolve() {
 
         std::chrono::milliseconds final_refresh_rate = parent_.dns_refresh_rate_ms_;
 
-        if (parent_.respect_dns_ttl_ && ttl_refresh_rate != std::chrono::seconds(0)) {
+        if (parent_.respect_dns_ttl_ && ttl_refresh_rate != std::chrono::seconds(0) &&
+            !response.empty()) {
           final_refresh_rate = ttl_refresh_rate;
+          ASSERT(ttl_refresh_rate != std::chrono::seconds::max() && final_refresh_rate.count() > 0);
           ENVOY_LOG(debug, "DNS refresh rate reset for {}, refresh rate {} ms", dns_address_,
                     final_refresh_rate.count());
         }
diff --git a/test/common/upstream/upstream_impl_test.cc b/test/common/upstream/upstream_impl_test.cc
index d36f1ec56d205..eb0e898f28b5a 100644
--- a/test/common/upstream/upstream_impl_test.cc
+++ b/test/common/upstream/upstream_impl_test.cc
@@ -920,6 +920,34 @@ TEST_F(StrictDnsClusterImplTest, RecordTtlAsDnsRefreshRate) {
       TestUtility::makeDnsResponse({"192.168.1.1", "192.168.1.2"}, std::chrono::seconds(5)));
 }
 
+TEST_F(StrictDnsClusterImplTest, DefaultTtlAsDnsRefreshRateWhenResponseEmpty) {
+  ResolverData resolver(*dns_resolver_, dispatcher_);
+
+  const std::string yaml = R"EOF(
+    name: name
+    connect_timeout: 0.25s
+    type: STRICT_DNS
+    lb_policy: ROUND_ROBIN
+    dns_refresh_rate: 4s
+    respect_dns_ttl: true
+    hosts: [{ socket_address: { address: localhost1, port_value: 11001 }}]
+  )EOF";
+
+  envoy::api::v2::Cluster cluster_config = parseClusterFromV2Yaml(yaml);
+  Envoy::Stats::ScopePtr scope = stats_.createScope(fmt::format(
+      "cluster.{}.", cluster_config.alt_stat_name().empty() ? cluster_config.name()
+                                                            : cluster_config.alt_stat_name()));
+  Envoy::Server::Configuration::TransportSocketFactoryContextImpl factory_context(
+      admin_, ssl_context_manager_, *scope, cm_, local_info_, dispatcher_, random_, stats_,
+      singleton_manager_, tls_, validation_visitor_, *api_);
+  StrictDnsClusterImpl cluster(cluster_config, runtime_, dns_resolver_, factory_context,
+                               std::move(scope), false);
+  cluster.initialize([] {});
+
+  EXPECT_CALL(*resolver.timer_, enableTimer(std::chrono::milliseconds(4000)));
+  resolver.dns_callback_(TestUtility::makeDnsResponse({}, std::chrono::seconds(5)));
+}
+
 TEST(HostImplTest, HostCluster) {
   MockClusterMockPrioritySet cluster;
   HostSharedPtr host = makeTestHost(cluster.info_, "tcp://10.0.0.1:1234", 1);