diff --git a/source/bforce/conf_read.c b/source/bforce/conf_read.c
index 0543abb..68a6075 100644
--- a/source/bforce/conf_read.c
+++ b/source/bforce/conf_read.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ int conf_readconf(const char *confname, int inclevel, bool earlydbg)
 	{
 		if (earlydbg)
 			fprintf(stderr,"BF-DEBUG: can't open config file \"%s\"\n", confname);
-		return(PROC_RC_IGNORE);
+		return(PROC_RC_ABORT);
 	}
 	if (earlydbg)
 		fprintf(stderr,"BF-DEBUG: start reading config \"%s\"\n", confname);