diff --git a/core/commands/routing.go b/core/commands/routing.go
index e8c6cdc18..1beb0976c 100644
--- a/core/commands/routing.go
+++ b/core/commands/routing.go
@@ -234,7 +234,9 @@ var provideRefRoutingCmd = &cmds.Command{
 			// If node has a DHT client, provide immediately the supplied cids before
 			// returning.
 			for _, c := range cids {
-				provideRoot(req.Context, dhtClient, c)
+				if err = provideRoot(req.Context, dhtClient, c); err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("error providing root cid: %w", err)
+				}
 			}
 		}