diff --git a/tests/test_experiment.py b/tests/test_experiment.py
index 8dc5113d5..aff32604c 100644
--- a/tests/test_experiment.py
+++ b/tests/test_experiment.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 from smartsim._core.control.launch_history import LaunchHistory
 from smartsim._core.utils.launcher import LauncherProtocol, create_job_id
 from smartsim.entity import entity
+from smartsim.error import errors
 from smartsim.experiment import Experiment
 from smartsim.launchable import job
 from smartsim.settings import launchSettings
@@ -318,10 +319,16 @@ def create(cls, _):
     def start(self, _):
         raise NotImplementedError("{type(self).__name__} should not start anything")
 
+    def _assert_ids(self, ids: LaunchedJobID):
+        if any(id_ not in self.id_to_status for id_ in ids):
+            raise errors.LauncherJobNotFound
+
     def get_status(self, *ids: LaunchedJobID):
+        self._assert_ids(ids)
         return {id_: self.id_to_status[id_] for id_ in ids}
 
     def stop_jobs(self, *ids: LaunchedJobID):
+        self._assert_ids(ids)
         stopped = {id_: JobStatus.CANCELLED for id_ in ids}
         self.id_to_status |= stopped
         return stopped