diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/wallet.py b/test/functional/test_framework/wallet.py
index 1cef714705..32045e2332 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/wallet.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/wallet.py
@@ -378,7 +378,8 @@ class MiniWallet:
         if target_vsize and not fee:  # respect fee_rate if target vsize is passed
             fee = get_fee(target_vsize, fee_rate)
         send_value = utxo_to_spend["value"] - (fee or (fee_rate * vsize / 1000))
-
+        if send_value <= 0:
+            raise RuntimeError(f"UTXO value {utxo_to_spend['value']} is too small to cover fees {(fee or (fee_rate * vsize / 1000))}")
         # create tx
         tx = self.create_self_transfer_multi(
             utxos_to_spend=[utxo_to_spend],