diff --git a/lustre/utils/lconf b/lustre/utils/lconf
index 86ff367ce9af1d8f65a4aee7e7b8b22e03156056..4e6b2ea423437f8a75cdf22d03ae3e5a22d99c09 100755
--- a/lustre/utils/lconf
+++ b/lustre/utils/lconf
@@ -2228,8 +2228,7 @@ def doHost(lustreDB, hosts):
         if node_db:
             break
     if not node_db:
-        print 'No host entry found.'
-        return
+        panic('No host entry found.')
 
     local_node_name = node_db.get_val('name', 0)
     is_router = node_db.get_val_int('router', 0)