diff --git a/lib/foreman_maintain/concerns/downstream.rb b/lib/foreman_maintain/concerns/downstream.rb
index eae4fb286..c447420fc 100644
--- a/lib/foreman_maintain/concerns/downstream.rb
+++ b/lib/foreman_maintain/concerns/downstream.rb
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def satellite_maintain_config
         if File.exist?(SATELLITE_MAINTAIN_CONFIG)
           YAML.load_file(SATELLITE_MAINTAIN_CONFIG)
         else
-          {}
+          raise "Couldn't load satellite-maintain configuration file #{SATELLITE_MAINTAIN_CONFIG}."
         end
       end