diff --git a/graphql/context_operation.go b/graphql/context_operation.go
index 8d6142ec3ff..2265a82b8c4 100644
--- a/graphql/context_operation.go
+++ b/graphql/context_operation.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func GetOperationContext(ctx context.Context) *OperationContext {
 	if val, ok := ctx.Value(operationCtx).(*OperationContext); ok {
 		return val
 	}
-	return nil
+	panic("missing operation context")
 }
 
 func WithOperationContext(ctx context.Context, rc *OperationContext) context.Context {
diff --git a/graphql/context_operation_test.go b/graphql/context_operation_test.go
index d590055bbd5..1086c237fc1 100644
--- a/graphql/context_operation_test.go
+++ b/graphql/context_operation_test.go
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestGetOperationContext(t *testing.T) {
-	require.Nil(t, GetOperationContext(context.Background()))
-
 	rc := &OperationContext{}
 	require.Equal(t, rc, GetOperationContext(WithOperationContext(context.Background(), rc)))
 }