diff --git a/packages/database/src/core/AppCheckTokenProvider.ts b/packages/database/src/core/AppCheckTokenProvider.ts
index ce9ce5575f6..612cb902e5f 100644
--- a/packages/database/src/core/AppCheckTokenProvider.ts
+++ b/packages/database/src/core/AppCheckTokenProvider.ts
@@ -50,15 +50,9 @@ export class AppCheckTokenProvider {
   getToken(forceRefresh?: boolean): Promise<AppCheckTokenResult> {
     if (this.serverAppAppCheckToken) {
       if (forceRefresh) {
-        return new Promise<AppCheckTokenResult>(resolve => {
-          const appCheckTokenResult = {
-            token: 'ERROR',
-            error: new Error(
-              'Attempted reuse of FirebaseServerApp.appCheckToken after previous usage failed.'
-            )
-          };
-          resolve(appCheckTokenResult);
-        });
+        throw new Error(
+          'Attempted reuse of `FirebaseServerApp.appCheckToken` after previous usage failed.'
+        );
       }
       return Promise.resolve({ token: this.serverAppAppCheckToken });
     }