diff --git a/cmd/expand/root.go b/cmd/expand/root.go
index ffa76d5e2..52db1d3ee 100644
--- a/cmd/expand/root.go
+++ b/cmd/expand/root.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func NewExpandCmd() *cobra.Command {
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			conn, err := client.GetReadConn(cmd)
 			if err != nil {
-				return nil
+				return err
 			}
 			defer conn.Close()