diff --git a/cmd/pint/lint.go b/cmd/pint/lint.go
index cb7ddbad..742a0e18 100644
--- a/cmd/pint/lint.go
+++ b/cmd/pint/lint.go
@@ -120,10 +120,10 @@ func actionLint(c *cli.Context) error {
 }
 
 func report(summary reporter.Summary, reporters *config.Reporters) error {
-	if reporters != nil {
+	if reporters != nil && reporters.JSON != nil {
 		if reporters.JSON != nil {
 			r := reporter.NewJSONReporter(reporters.JSON.Path)
-			err := r.Submit(summary.Reports())
+			if err := r.Submit(summary.Reports()); err != nil { return err; }
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}