diff --git a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptions.java b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptions.java
index 28cbef2cd2c8d..34d827ce3f2e0 100644
--- a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptions.java
+++ b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptions.java
@@ -105,20 +105,26 @@ public URI getServiceStatusUri() {
   }
 
   public String getServiceProtocolVersion() {
-    String protocolVersion = config.get(RELAY_SECTION, "protocol-version").orElse("");
+    String rawProtocolVersion = config.get(RELAY_SECTION, "protocol-version").orElse("");
+    String protocolVersion = rawProtocolVersion;
     if (protocolVersion.isEmpty()) {
       return protocolVersion;
     } else {
-      // Support input in the form of "http/1.1" or "HTTP/1.1"
-      protocolVersion = protocolVersion.toUpperCase().replaceAll("/", "_").replaceAll("\\.", "_");
+      protocolVersion = normalizeProtocolVersion(protocolVersion);
     }
     try {
       return Version.valueOf(protocolVersion).toString();
     } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
-      throw new ConfigException("Unable to determine the service protocol version", e);
+      LOG.info("Unsupported protocol version: " + protocolVersion);
+      throw new ConfigException("Unsupported protocol version provided: " + rawProtocolVersion, e);
     }
   }
 
+  private String normalizeProtocolVersion(String protocolVersion) {
+    // Support input in the form of "http/1.1" or "HTTP/1.1"
+    return protocolVersion.toUpperCase().replaceAll("/", "_").replaceAll("\\.", "_");
+  }
+
   // Method being used in SessionSlot
   @SuppressWarnings("unused")
   private boolean isServiceUp(HttpClient client) {
diff --git a/java/test/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptionsTest.java b/java/test/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptionsTest.java
index c48f79f54d888..8b02b1e595f7c 100644
--- a/java/test/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptionsTest.java
+++ b/java/test/org/openqa/selenium/grid/node/relay/RelayOptionsTest.java
@@ -140,7 +140,8 @@ void protocolVersionThrowsConfigException() {
         .isThrownBy(
             () -> {
               relayOptions.getServiceProtocolVersion();
-            });
+            })
+        .withMessageContaining("Unsupported protocol version provided: HTTP/0.9");
   }
 
   @Test