diff --git a/go/topology/topology.go b/go/topology/topology.go
index 74dc1cd09..6f18a73ee 100644
--- a/go/topology/topology.go
+++ b/go/topology/topology.go
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ func (t *Topology) loadConfiguration(configurationFile string) error {
 	b, e := ioutil.ReadFile(configurationFile)
 	if e == nil {
 		t.configuration, e = NewConfiguration(b)
+		return e
 	}
-	return e
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (t *Topology) Lookup(vid storage.VolumeId) []*DataNode {