diff --git a/pkg/controller/volume/scheduling/scheduler_binder.go b/pkg/controller/volume/scheduling/scheduler_binder.go
index 0cd05ddce0d..ae277ef5b31 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/volume/scheduling/scheduler_binder.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/volume/scheduling/scheduler_binder.go
@@ -674,8 +674,13 @@ func (b *volumeBinder) isVolumeBound(pod *v1.Pod, vol *v1.Volume) (bound bool, p
 	switch {
 	case vol.PersistentVolumeClaim != nil:
 		pvcName = vol.PersistentVolumeClaim.ClaimName
-	case vol.Ephemeral != nil &&
-		utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.GenericEphemeralVolume):
+	case vol.Ephemeral != nil:
+		if !utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.GenericEphemeralVolume) {
+			return false, nil, fmt.Errorf(
+				"volume %s is a generic ephemeral volume, but that feature is disabled in kube-scheduler",
+				vol.Name,
+			)
+		}
 		// Generic ephemeral inline volumes also use a PVC,
 		// just with a computed name, and...
 		pvcName = pod.Name + "-" + vol.Name