diff --git a/nhsn/delphi_nhsn/pull.py b/nhsn/delphi_nhsn/pull.py
index 855c0952f..e05d42e9d 100644
--- a/nhsn/delphi_nhsn/pull.py
+++ b/nhsn/delphi_nhsn/pull.py
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ def check_last_updated(socrata_token, dataset_id, logger):
     -------
 
     """
-    recently_updated_source = True
     try:
         client = Socrata("data.cdc.gov", socrata_token)
         response = client.get_metadata(dataset_id)
@@ -49,10 +48,11 @@ def check_last_updated(socrata_token, dataset_id, logger):
             )
         else:
             logger.info(f"{prelim_prefix}NHSN data is stale; Skipping", updated_timestamp=updated_timestamp)
+        return recently_updated_source
     # pylint: disable=W0703
     except Exception as e:
-        logger.info("error while processing socrata metadata; treating data as stale", error=str(e))
-    return recently_updated_source
+        logger.error("error while processing socrata metadata", error=str(e))
+        raise
 
 
 def pull_data(socrata_token: str, dataset_id: str, backup_dir: str, logger):
diff --git a/nhsn/tests/test_pull.py b/nhsn/tests/test_pull.py
index ec2de51ef..0c6da19e9 100644
--- a/nhsn/tests/test_pull.py
+++ b/nhsn/tests/test_pull.py
@@ -176,3 +176,17 @@ def test_check_last_updated(self, mock_socrata, dataset, updatedAt, caplog):
             stale_msg = f"{dataset['msg_prefix']}NHSN data is stale; Skipping"
             assert stale_msg in caplog.text
 
+
+
+    @patch("delphi_nhsn.pull.Socrata")
+    def test_check_last_updated_error(self, mock_socrata, caplog):
+        mock_client = MagicMock()
+        # mock metadata missing important field, "viewLastModified":
+        mock_client.get_metadata.return_value = {"rowsUpdatedAt": time.time()}
+        mock_socrata.return_value = mock_client
+        logger = get_structured_logger()
+
+        with pytest.raises(KeyError):
+            check_last_updated("fakesocratatoken", MAIN_DATASET_ID, logger)
+            assert "error while processing socrata metadata" in caplog.text
+