diff --git a/cosmos/dbt/graph.py b/cosmos/dbt/graph.py
index c2551677e..6e4c96ba3 100644
--- a/cosmos/dbt/graph.py
+++ b/cosmos/dbt/graph.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import itertools
 import json
 import os
+import shutil
 import tempfile
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ def load(
 
     def run_dbt_ls(self, project_path: Path, tmp_dir: Path, env_vars: dict[str, str]) -> dict[str, DbtNode]:
         """Runs dbt ls command and returns the parsed nodes."""
-        ls_command = [dbt_cmd, "ls", "--output", "json"]
+        ls_command = [self.dbt_cmd, "ls", "--output", "json"]
 
         if self.render_config.exclude:
             ls_command.extend(["--exclude", *self.render_config.exclude])
@@ -229,8 +230,8 @@ def load_via_dbt_ls(self) -> None:
         if not self.profile_config:
             raise CosmosLoadDbtException("Unable to load project via dbt ls without a profile config.")
 
-        if not self.profile_config:
-            raise CosmosLoadDbtException("Unable to load project via dbt ls without a profile config.")
+        if not shutil.which(self.dbt_cmd):
+            raise CosmosLoadDbtException(f"Unable to find the dbt executable: {self.dbt_cmd}")
 
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
             logger.info(
diff --git a/tests/dbt/test_graph.py b/tests/dbt/test_graph.py
index de6e97c22..2da989c6c 100644
--- a/tests/dbt/test_graph.py
+++ b/tests/dbt/test_graph.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from cosmos.config import ExecutionConfig, ProfileConfig, ProjectConfig, RenderConfig
+from cosmos.config import ExecutionConfig, ProfileConfig, ProjectConfig, RenderConfig, CosmosConfigException
 from cosmos.constants import DbtResourceType, ExecutionMode
 from cosmos.dbt.graph import (
     CosmosLoadDbtException,
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ def test_load_via_dbt_ls_with_invalid_dbt_path():
     render_config = RenderConfig(dbt_project_path=DBT_PROJECTS_ROOT_DIR / DBT_PROJECT_NAME)
     with patch("pathlib.Path.exists", return_value=True):
         dbt_graph = DbtGraph(
+            dbt_cmd="/inexistent/dbt",
             project=project_config,
             execution_config=execution_config,
             render_config=render_config,
@@ -358,10 +359,10 @@ def test_load_via_dbt_ls_with_invalid_dbt_path():
                 profiles_yml_filepath=Path(__file__).parent.parent / "sample/profiles.yml",
             ),
         )
-        with pytest.raises(CosmosConfigException) as err_info:
+        with pytest.raises(CosmosLoadDbtException) as err_info:
             dbt_graph.load_via_dbt_ls()
 
-    expected = "Unable to find the dbt executable, attempted: </inexistent/dbt> and <dbt>."
+    expected = "Unable to find the dbt executable: /inexistent/dbt"
     assert err_info.value.args[0] == expected