diff --git a/lib/scope.js b/lib/scope.js
index cf0b246f6..82f3bcc42 100644
--- a/lib/scope.js
+++ b/lib/scope.js
@@ -32,7 +32,13 @@ function normalizeUrl(u) {
     if (u instanceof LegacyUrl) {
       return normalizeUrl(new URL(url.format(u)))
     }
-    throw new Error('Unrecognized URL')
+    throw new Error('Unrecognized URL passed to nock()')
+  }
+
+  if (!/https?:/.test(u.protocol)) {
+    throw new TypeError(
+      `Protocol '${u.protocol}' not recognized. This commonly occurs when a hostname and port are included without a protocol, producing a URL that is valid but confusing, and probably not what you want.`
+    )
   }
 
   return {
@@ -89,11 +95,6 @@ class Scope extends EventEmitter {
 
     if (!(basePath instanceof RegExp)) {
       this.urlParts = normalizeUrl(basePath)
-      if (!/https?:/.test(this.urlParts.protocol)) {
-        throw new TypeError(
-          `Protocol '${this.urlParts.protocol}' not recognized. This commonly occurs when a hostname and port are included without a protocol, producing a URL that is valid but confusing, and probably not what you want.`
-        )
-      }
       this.port = this.urlParts.port
       this.basePathname = this.urlParts.pathname.replace(/\/$/, '')
       this.basePath = `${this.urlParts.protocol}//${this.urlParts.hostname}:${this.port}`