diff --git a/.changelog/24303.txt b/.changelog/24303.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7c718d89d04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/24303.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+resource/aws_appstream_user_stack_association: Prevent panic during resource read
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/internal/service/appstream/user_stack_association.go b/internal/service/appstream/user_stack_association.go
index 8079a027359..d2d92a282d0 100644
--- a/internal/service/appstream/user_stack_association.go
+++ b/internal/service/appstream/user_stack_association.go
@@ -109,7 +109,14 @@ func resourceUserStackAssociationRead(ctx context.Context, d *schema.ResourceDat
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if len(resp.UserStackAssociations) == 0 && !d.IsNewResource() {
+	if err != nil {
+		return diag.FromErr(fmt.Errorf("error reading AppStream User Stack Association (%s): %w", d.Id(), err))
+	}
+
+	if resp == nil || len(resp.UserStackAssociations) == 0 || resp.UserStackAssociations[0] == nil {
+		if d.IsNewResource() {
+			return diag.Errorf("error reading AppStream User Stack Association (%s): empty output after creation", d.Id())
+		}
 		log.Printf("[WARN] AppStream User Stack Association (%s) not found, removing from state", d.Id())
 		d.SetId("")
 		return nil