diff --git a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
index d70d7e94d..2e9616821 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/proxy_server.py
@@ -6800,6 +6800,13 @@ async def add_new_model(
                     "updated_by": user_api_key_dict.user_id or litellm_proxy_admin_name,
                 }
             )
+        else:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=500,
+                detail={
+                    "error": "Set `store_model_in_db: true` in general_settings on your config.yaml"
+                },
+            )
         return {"message": "Model added successfully"}
 
     except Exception as e:
diff --git a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
index 3d839b26c..d58cf7c2f 100644
--- a/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
+++ b/litellm/tests/test_proxy_server.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_img_gen(client_no_auth):
 
 
 #### ADDITIONAL
-# @pytest.mark.skip(reason="hitting yaml load issues on circle-ci")
+@pytest.mark.skip(reason="test via docker tests. Requires prisma client.")
 def test_add_new_model(client_no_auth):
     global headers
     try: