diff --git a/server.go b/server.go
index 8a9d05c..739ba16 100644
--- a/server.go
+++ b/server.go
@@ -1442,7 +1442,7 @@ func (s *server) readConf() error {
 	b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(confPath)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil
+		return err
 	}
 
 	conf := &Config{}