diff --git a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_relation_provider.py b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_relation_provider.py
index d8bb76c8d..d7c923748 100644
--- a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_relation_provider.py
+++ b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_relation_provider.py
@@ -263,7 +263,12 @@ def _on_index_requested(self, event: IndexRequestedEvent) -> None:  # noqa
         self.opensearch_provides.set_version(rel_id, self.opensearch.version)
         self.opensearch_provides.set_credentials(rel_id, username, pwd)
         self.opensearch_provides.set_index(rel_id, event.index)
-        self.update_certs(rel_id)
+        try:
+            self.update_certs(rel_id)
+        except KeyError:
+            logger.warning("unable to get ca_chain from secret")
+            event.defer()
+            return
         self.update_endpoints(event.relation)
 
         logger.info(f"new index {event.index} available")
@@ -359,6 +364,9 @@ def update_certs(self, relation_id, ca_chain=None):
         """Update TLS certs passed into this relation.
 
         If ca_chain is not provided, it'll get the app-admin CA generated by the TLS charm.
+
+        Raises:
+            KeyError: if the CA chain can't be found in the secret.
         """
         if not self.unit.is_leader():
             # We're updating app databags in this function, so it can't be called on follower
@@ -366,13 +374,17 @@ def update_certs(self, relation_id, ca_chain=None):
             return
         try:
             # If the ca_chain=None, then we try to load the CA from the app-admin secret.
-            _ch_chain = ca_chain or self.charm.secrets.get_object(
-                Scope.APP, CertType.APP_ADMIN.val
-            ).get("chain")
+            # If neither ca_chain nor the secret exists, we'll raise a KeyError.
+            _ch_chain = (
+                ca_chain
+                or self.charm.secrets.get_object(Scope.APP, CertType.APP_ADMIN.val)["chain"]
+            )
         except AttributeError:
             # cert doesn't exist - presumably we don't yet have a TLS relation.
             logger.warning("unable to get ca_chain")
             return
+        except TypeError:
+            raise KeyError("unable to get ca_chain")
         self.opensearch_provides.set_tls_ca(relation_id, _ch_chain)
 
     def _on_relation_changed(self, event: RelationChangedEvent) -> None:
diff --git a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_tls.py b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_tls.py
index 846a14dd0..36f169408 100644
--- a/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_tls.py
+++ b/lib/charms/opensearch/v0/opensearch_tls.py
@@ -267,7 +267,14 @@ def _on_certificate_available(self, event: CertificateAvailableEvent) -> None:
                 return
 
         for relation in self.charm.opensearch_provider.relations:
-            self.charm.opensearch_provider.update_certs(relation.id, ca_chain)
+            try:
+                self.charm.opensearch_provider.update_certs(relation.id, ca_chain)
+            except KeyError:
+                # As we are setting the ca_chain, it should not be likely to happen a KeyError at
+                # update_certs. This logic is left for a very corner case.
+                logger.error("Error updating certificates in the relation: ca_chain not set.")
+                event.defer()
+                return
 
         # broadcast secret updates for certs and CA to related sub-clusters
         if self.charm.unit.is_leader() and self.charm.opensearch_peer_cm.is_provider(typ="main"):
diff --git a/tests/unit/lib/test_opensearch_relation_provider.py b/tests/unit/lib/test_opensearch_relation_provider.py
index bee6b6b30..1d522d522 100644
--- a/tests/unit/lib/test_opensearch_relation_provider.py
+++ b/tests/unit/lib/test_opensearch_relation_provider.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     NodeLockRelationName,
     PeerRelationName,
 )
+from charms.opensearch.v0.constants_tls import CertType
 from charms.opensearch.v0.helper_security import generate_password
 from charms.opensearch.v0.models import (
     App,
@@ -521,3 +522,21 @@ def test_avoid_removing_non_charmed_users_and_roles(
         mock_remove_role.assert_called_once_with(
             f"{ClientRelationName}_{self.client_second_rel_id}"
         )
+
+    @patch("ops.model.Unit.is_leader")
+    @patch("charms.opensearch.v0.opensearch_secrets.OpenSearchSecrets.get_object")
+    def test_update_certs(
+        self,
+        mock_get_object,
+        mock_is_leader,
+    ):
+        event = MagicMock()
+        mock_get_object.return_value = {"some_expected_key": "some_value"}
+        mock_is_leader.return_value = True
+        try:
+            self.opensearch_provider.update_certs(event)
+        except KeyError as e:
+            self.assertEqual(str(e), "'chain'")
+        else:
+            self.fail("KeyError not raised")
+        mock_get_object.assert_called_once_with(Scope.APP, CertType.APP_ADMIN.val)