If you delete references.bib for from _quarto.yml latex rendering gives hard to understand error

Bug description

Create a project file.
Remove references.bib file from _quarto.yml.
command:

quarto render --to pdf 

gives following error.

LaTeX Error: Something's wrong--perhaps a missing \item.    
See the LaTeX manual or LaTeX Companion for explanation.   
Type  H <return>  for immediate help.   
...
l.242 \end{CSLReferences}

change cite-method: in format section like below:

format:

  pdf:
    documentclass: scrreprt
    cite-method: natbib

it works and you understand the error.

I didn't find a database entry for "knuth84"

│generating bibliography                                                                                                                │
│  This is BibTeX, Version 0.99d (TeX Live 2024)                                                                                        │
│  The top-level auxiliary file: index.aux                                                                                              │
│  The style file: plainnat.bst                                                                                                         │
│  I found no \bibdata command---while reading file index.aux                                                                           │
│  Warning--I didn't find a database entry for "knuth84"                                                                                │
│  (There was 1 error message)                                                                                                          │
│                                                                                                                                       │
│running xelatex - 2                                                                                                                    │
│  This is XeTeX, Version 3.141592653-2.6-0.999996 (TeX Live 2024) (preloaded format=xelatex)                                           │
│   restricted \write18 enabled.                                                                                                        │
│  entering extended mode                                                                                                               │

Steps to reproduce

Expected behavior

It should remind you that there is no bib file instead of giving this cryptic error.

Actual behavior

gives following error.

LaTeX Error: Something's wrong--perhaps a missing \item.    
See the LaTeX manual or LaTeX Companion for explanation.   
Type  H <return>  for immediate help.   
...
l.242 \end{CSLReferences}

Your environment

command line quarto

Quarto check output

[✓] Checking tools....................OK │
│ TinyTeX: v2024.10 │
│ Chromium: 869685 │
│ │
│[✓] Checking LaTeX....................OK │
│ Using: TinyTex │
│ Path: /home/atilla/.TinyTeX/bin/x86_64-linux │
│ Version: 2024 │
│ │
│[✓] Checking basic markdown render....OK │
│ │
│[✓] Checking Python 3 installation....OK │
│ Version: 3.12.3 │
│ Path: /usr/bin/python3 │
│ Jupyter: 5.3.2 │
│ Kernels: python3 │
│ │
│[✓] Checking Jupyter engine render....OK │
│ │
│[✓] Checking R installation...........(None) │
│ │
│ Unable to locate an installed version of R. │
│ Install R from https://cloud.r-project.org/ │
│