diff --git a/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.cc b/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.cc
index c314aa7b45..a29b2c9c68 100644
--- a/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.cc
+++ b/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.cc
@@ -156,8 +156,12 @@ dht::token_range_vector
 effective_replication_map::do_get_ranges(noncopyable_function<bool(inet_address_vector_replica_set)> should_add_range) const {
     dht::token_range_vector ret;
     const auto& tm = *_tmptr;
-    auto prev_tok = tm.sorted_tokens().back();
-    for (const auto& tok : tm.sorted_tokens()) {
+    const auto& sorted_tokens = tm.sorted_tokens();
+    if (sorted_tokens.empty()) {
+        on_internal_error(rslogger, "Token metadata is empty");
+    }
+    auto prev_tok = sorted_tokens.back();
+    for (const auto& tok : sorted_tokens) {
         if (should_add_range(get_natural_endpoints(tok))) {
             insert_token_range_to_sorted_container_while_unwrapping(prev_tok, tok, ret);
         }
@@ -183,8 +187,12 @@ future<dht::token_range_vector>
 abstract_replication_strategy::get_ranges(inet_address ep, token_metadata_ptr tmptr) const {
     dht::token_range_vector ret;
     const auto& tm = *tmptr;
-    auto prev_tok = tm.sorted_tokens().back();
-    for (auto tok : tm.sorted_tokens()) {
+    const auto& sorted_tokens = tm.sorted_tokens();
+    if (sorted_tokens.empty()) {
+        on_internal_error(rslogger, "Token metadata is empty");
+    }
+    auto prev_tok = sorted_tokens.back();
+    for (auto tok : sorted_tokens) {
         for (inet_address a : co_await calculate_natural_endpoints(tok, tm)) {
             if (a == ep) {
                 insert_token_range_to_sorted_container_while_unwrapping(prev_tok, tok, ret);
diff --git a/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.hh b/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.hh
index 117d148df4..9eac93a793 100644
--- a/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.hh
+++ b/locator/abstract_replication_strategy.hh
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ public:
     replication_strategy_type get_type() const { return _my_type; }
 
     // Use the token_metadata provided by the caller instead of _token_metadata
+    // Note: must be called with initialized, non-empty token_metadata.
     future<dht::token_range_vector> get_ranges(inet_address ep, token_metadata_ptr tmptr) const;
 
 public:
@@ -175,6 +176,8 @@ public:
     // The list is sorted, and its elements are non overlapping and non wrap-around.
     // It the analogue of Origin's getAddressRanges().get(endpoint).
     // This function is not efficient, and not meant for the fast path.
+    //
+    // Note: must be called after token_metadata has been initialized.
     dht::token_range_vector get_ranges(inet_address ep) const;
 
     // get_primary_ranges() returns the list of "primary ranges" for the given
@@ -183,11 +186,15 @@ public:
     // returned calculate_natural_endpoints().
     // This function is the analogue of Origin's
     // StorageService.getPrimaryRangesForEndpoint().
+    //
+    // Note: must be called after token_metadata has been initialized.
     dht::token_range_vector get_primary_ranges(inet_address ep) const;
 
     // get_primary_ranges_within_dc() is similar to get_primary_ranges()
     // except it assigns a primary node for each range within each dc,
     // instead of one node globally.
+    //
+    // Note: must be called after token_metadata has been initialized.
     dht::token_range_vector get_primary_ranges_within_dc(inet_address ep) const;
 
     std::unordered_map<dht::token_range, inet_address_vector_replica_set>