diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 2e880a6d35485b..81b3a133bd4331 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -1967,7 +1967,7 @@ bool AppInitMain(boost::thread_group& threadGroup, CScheduler& scheduler)
                 return InitError(_("Invalid masternodeblsprivkey. Please see documenation."));
             }
         } else {
-            InitWarning(_("You should specify a masternodeblsprivkey in the configuration. Please see documentation for help."));
+            return InitError(_("You must specify a masternodeblsprivkey in the configuration. Please see documentation for help."));
         }
 
         // init and register activeMasternodeManager