diff --git a/contrib/scripts/find-backports b/contrib/scripts/find-backports
index c9ec1c0d64..ac1bac69bf 100755
--- a/contrib/scripts/find-backports
+++ b/contrib/scripts/find-backports
@@ -43,6 +43,15 @@ def _keys_to_dict(itr):
     return d
 
 
+@memoize
+def git_ref_exists_plain(ref):
+    try:
+        subprocess.check_output(["git", "show-ref", "-q", "--verify", str(ref)])
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        return False
+    return True
+
+
 @memoize
 def git_ref_exists(ref):
     try:
@@ -245,6 +254,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     if not ref_head:
         die('Ref "%s" does not exist' % (ref_head0))
 
+    if not git_ref_exists_plain("refs/notes/bugs"):
+        die(
+            "Notes refs/notes/bugs not found. Read CONTRIBUTING.md file for how to setup the notes"
+        )
+
     ref_upstreams = []
     if len(sys.argv) <= 2:
         head_name = git_get_head_name(ref_head0)