diff --git a/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.cc b/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.cc
index 156f305bb51b..0551cef7ffb8 100644
--- a/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.cc
+++ b/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.cc
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ constexpr auto make_lut(type_list<Ts...>) {
     return lut;
 }
 
-std::optional<handler> handler_for_key(kafka::api_key key) {
+std::optional<handler> handler_for_key(kafka::api_key key) noexcept {
     static constexpr auto lut = make_lut(request_types{});
     if (key >= (short)0 && key < (short)lut.size()) {
         if (auto handler = lut[key]) {
diff --git a/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.h b/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.h
index 6f5b368984c8..dc4857e9f993 100644
--- a/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.h
+++ b/src/v/kafka/server/handlers/handler_interface.h
@@ -106,6 +106,6 @@ using handler = const handler_interface*;
  * @param key the API key for the handler
  * @return std::optional<handler> the handler, if any
  */
-std::optional<handler> handler_for_key(api_key key);
+std::optional<handler> handler_for_key(api_key key) noexcept;
 
 } // namespace kafka