diff --git a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
index 6b60117c..c2741948 100644
--- a/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
+++ b/lib/jasmine-core/jasmine.js
@@ -9872,11 +9872,6 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SuiteBuilder = function(j$) {
         suite.exclude();
       }
       this.addSpecsToSuite_(suite, definitionFn);
-      if (suite.parentSuite && !suite.children.length) {
-        throw new Error(
-          `describe with no children (describe() or it()): ${suite.getFullName()}`
-        );
-      }
       return suite;
     }
 
@@ -10023,11 +10018,19 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SuiteBuilder = function(j$) {
       const parentSuite = this.currentDeclarationSuite_;
       parentSuite.addChild(suite);
       this.currentDeclarationSuite_ = suite;
+      let threw = false;
 
       try {
         definitionFn();
       } catch (e) {
         suite.handleException(e);
+        threw = true;
+      }
+
+      if (suite.parentSuite && !suite.children.length && !threw) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `describe with no children (describe() or it()): ${suite.getFullName()}`
+        );
       }
 
       this.currentDeclarationSuite_ = parentSuite;
diff --git a/spec/core/integration/EnvSpec.js b/spec/core/integration/EnvSpec.js
index f2433403..8f2990ad 100644
--- a/spec/core/integration/EnvSpec.js
+++ b/spec/core/integration/EnvSpec.js
@@ -3966,6 +3966,44 @@ describe('Env integration', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  it('reports a suite level error when a describe fn throws', async function() {
+    const reporter = jasmine.createSpyObj('reporter', ['suiteDone']);
+    env.addReporter(reporter);
+
+    env.describe('throws before defining specs', function() {
+      throw new Error('nope');
+    });
+
+    env.describe('throws after defining specs', function() {
+      env.it('is a spec');
+      throw new Error('nope');
+    });
+
+    await env.execute();
+
+    expect(reporter.suiteDone).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      jasmine.objectContaining({
+        fullName: 'throws after defining specs',
+        failedExpectations: [
+          jasmine.objectContaining({
+            message: jasmine.stringContaining('Error: nope')
+          })
+        ]
+      })
+    );
+
+    expect(reporter.suiteDone).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      jasmine.objectContaining({
+        fullName: 'throws after defining specs',
+        failedExpectations: [
+          jasmine.objectContaining({
+            message: jasmine.stringContaining('Error: nope')
+          })
+        ]
+      })
+    );
+  });
+
   function browserEventMethods() {
     return {
       addEventListener() {},
diff --git a/src/core/SuiteBuilder.js b/src/core/SuiteBuilder.js
index 0fe85925..c29b2f40 100644
--- a/src/core/SuiteBuilder.js
+++ b/src/core/SuiteBuilder.js
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SuiteBuilder = function(j$) {
         suite.exclude();
       }
       this.addSpecsToSuite_(suite, definitionFn);
-      if (suite.parentSuite && !suite.children.length) {
-        throw new Error(
-          `describe with no children (describe() or it()): ${suite.getFullName()}`
-        );
-      }
       return suite;
     }
 
@@ -183,11 +178,19 @@ getJasmineRequireObj().SuiteBuilder = function(j$) {
       const parentSuite = this.currentDeclarationSuite_;
       parentSuite.addChild(suite);
       this.currentDeclarationSuite_ = suite;
+      let threw = false;
 
       try {
         definitionFn();
       } catch (e) {
         suite.handleException(e);
+        threw = true;
+      }
+
+      if (suite.parentSuite && !suite.children.length && !threw) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `describe with no children (describe() or it()): ${suite.getFullName()}`
+        );
       }
 
       this.currentDeclarationSuite_ = parentSuite;