diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/utility/RegistryAuthLocator.java b/core/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/utility/RegistryAuthLocator.java
index b5b50b65f94..84ad8b9868e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/utility/RegistryAuthLocator.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/testcontainers/utility/RegistryAuthLocator.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ private AuthConfig authConfigUsingCredentialsStoreOrHelper(String hostName, Json
         } else if (!credsStoreName.isMissingNode()) {
             return runCredentialProvider(hostName, credsStoreName.asText());
         } else {
-            throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
+            throw new IllegalStateException("Unsupported Docker config auths settings!");
         }
     }