diff --git a/tests/unit/test_schema_reader.py b/tests/unit/test_schema_reader.py
index 7026ea853..680bc6446 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_schema_reader.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_schema_reader.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 from karapace.schema_type import SchemaType
 from karapace.typing import SchemaId, Version
 from tests.base_testcase import BaseTestCase
-from tests.utils import schema_protobuf_invalid
+from tests.utils import schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted, schema_protobuf_with_invalid_ref
 from typing import Callable, List, Tuple
 from unittest.mock import Mock
 
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def factory(key: bytes, value: bytes, offset: int = 1) -> Message:
             key=b'{"keytype":"SCHEMA","subject":"test","version":1,"magic":1}',
             value=(
                 b'{"schemaType": "PROTOBUF", "subject": "test", "version": 1, "id": 1, "deleted": false, "schema":'
-                + json.dumps(schema_protobuf_invalid).encode()
+                + json.dumps(schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted).encode()
                 + b"}"
             ),
             schema_type=SchemaType.PROTOBUF,
@@ -515,3 +515,62 @@ def test_message_error_handling(
             assert log.name == "karapace.schema_reader"
             assert log.levelname == "WARNING"
             assert log.message == test_case.expected_log_message
+
+
+def test_message_error_handling_with_invalid_reference_schema_protobuf(
+    caplog: LogCaptureFixture,
+    schema_reader_with_consumer_messages_factory: Callable[[Tuple[List[Message]]], KafkaSchemaReader],
+    message_factory: Callable[[bytes, bytes, int], Message],
+) -> None:
+    # Given an invalid schema (corrupted)
+    key_ref = b'{"keytype":"SCHEMA","subject":"testref","version":1,"magic":1}'
+    value_ref = (
+        b'{"schemaType": "PROTOBUF", "subject": "testref", "version": 1, "id": 1, "deleted": false'
+        + b', "schema": '
+        + json.dumps(schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted).encode()
+        + b"}"
+    )
+    message_ref = message_factory(key=key_ref, value=value_ref)
+
+    # And given a schema referencing that corrupted schema (valid otherwise)
+    key_using_ref = b'{"keytype":"SCHEMA","subject":"test","version":1,"magic":1}'
+    value_using_ref = (
+        b'{"schemaType": "PROTOBUF", "subject": "test", "version": 1, "id": 1, "deleted": false'
+        + b', "schema": '
+        + json.dumps(schema_protobuf_with_invalid_ref).encode()
+        + b', "references": [{"name": "testref.proto", "subject": "testref", "version": 1}]'
+        + b"}"
+    )
+    message_using_ref = message_factory(key=key_using_ref, value=value_using_ref)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.WARN, logger="karapace.schema_reader"):
+        # When handling the corrupted schema
+        schema_reader = schema_reader_with_consumer_messages_factory(([message_ref],))
+
+        # Then the schema is recognised as invalid
+        with pytest.raises(CorruptKafkaRecordException):
+            schema_reader.handle_messages()
+
+            assert schema_reader.offset == 1
+            assert not schema_reader.ready
+
+        # When handling the schema
+        schema_reader.consumer.consume.side_effect = ([message_using_ref],)
+
+        # Then the schema is recognised as invalid because of the corrupted referenced schema
+        with pytest.raises(CorruptKafkaRecordException):
+            schema_reader.handle_messages()
+
+            assert schema_reader.offset == 1
+            assert not schema_reader.ready
+
+        warn_records = [r for r in caplog.records if r.levelname == "WARNING"]
+
+        assert len(warn_records) == 2
+
+        # Check that different warnings are logged for each schema
+        assert warn_records[0].name == "karapace.schema_reader"
+        assert warn_records[0].message == "Schema is not valid ProtoBuf definition"
+
+        assert warn_records[1].name == "karapace.schema_reader"
+        assert warn_records[1].message == "Invalid Protobuf references"
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 352745f94..3757e0739 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@
     {"q": 3, "sensor_type": "L1", "nums": [3, 4], "order": {"item": "ABC01223"}},
 ]
 
-schema_protobuf_invalid = """
+schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted = """
 |o3"
 |
 |opti  --  om.codingharbour.protobuf";
@@ -162,7 +162,19 @@
 |  HIGH = 0
 |  MIDDLE = ;
 """
-schema_protobuf_invalid = trim_margin(schema_protobuf_invalid)
+schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted = trim_margin(schema_protobuf_invalid_because_corrupted)
+
+schema_protobuf_with_invalid_ref = """
+ |syntax = "proto3";
+ |
+ |import "Message.proto";
+ |
+ |message MessageWithInvalidRef {
+ |    string name = 1;
+ |    Message ref = 2;
+ |}
+ |"""
+schema_protobuf_with_invalid_ref = trim_margin(schema_protobuf_with_invalid_ref)
 
 schema_data_second = {"protobuf": (schema_protobuf_second, test_objects_protobuf_second)}