diff --git a/pkg/workflow/compiler_yaml_main_job.go b/pkg/workflow/compiler_yaml_main_job.go
index 961e1bb03df..149f121d34e 100644
--- a/pkg/workflow/compiler_yaml_main_job.go
+++ b/pkg/workflow/compiler_yaml_main_job.go
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ func (c *Compiler) generateMainJobSteps(yaml *strings.Builder, data *WorkflowDat
 	engine, err := c.getAgenticEngine(data.AI)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get agentic engine: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// Add engine-specific installation steps (includes Node.js setup for npm-based engines)