diff --git a/langchain/agents/mrkl/base.py b/langchain/agents/mrkl/base.py
index f28a01ab01..e1d55eb12f 100644
--- a/langchain/agents/mrkl/base.py
+++ b/langchain/agents/mrkl/base.py
@@ -124,6 +124,10 @@ class ZeroShotAgent(Agent):
     @classmethod
     def _validate_tools(cls, tools: Sequence[BaseTool]) -> None:
         validate_tools_single_input(cls.__name__, tools)
+        if len(tools) == 0:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Got no tools for {cls.__name__}. At least one tool must be provided."
+            )
         for tool in tools:
             if tool.description is None:
                 raise ValueError(
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/agents/test_serialization.py b/tests/unit_tests/agents/test_serialization.py
index db68fd2b28..64e5e4d8d5 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/agents/test_serialization.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/agents/test_serialization.py
@@ -3,12 +3,19 @@ from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 
 from langchain.agents.agent_types import AgentType
 from langchain.agents.initialize import initialize_agent, load_agent
+from langchain.agents.tools import Tool
 from langchain.llms.fake import FakeListLLM
 
 
 def test_mrkl_serialization() -> None:
     agent = initialize_agent(
-        [],
+        [
+            Tool(
+                name="Test tool",
+                func=lambda x: x,
+                description="Test description",
+            )
+        ],
         FakeListLLM(responses=[]),
         agent=AgentType.ZERO_SHOT_REACT_DESCRIPTION,
         verbose=True,