diff --git a/server/src/main/java/com/cloud/vm/snapshot/VMSnapshotManagerImpl.java b/server/src/main/java/com/cloud/vm/snapshot/VMSnapshotManagerImpl.java
index e2cae0651eb..86357f7700f 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/com/cloud/vm/snapshot/VMSnapshotManagerImpl.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/com/cloud/vm/snapshot/VMSnapshotManagerImpl.java
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ public class VMSnapshotManagerImpl extends MutualExclusiveIdsManagerBase impleme
             return snapshot;
         } catch (Exception e) {
             s_logger.debug("Failed to create vm snapshot: " + vmSnapshotId, e);
-            return null;
+            throw new CloudRuntimeException("Failed to create vm snapshot: " + vmSnapshotId, e);
         }
     }