diff --git a/tests/shell/external/example_codegen_econf_empty_array_spec.sh b/tests/shell/external/example_codegen_econf_empty_array_spec.sh
index 556a163d09c..5f4fdc52292 100644
--- a/tests/shell/external/example_codegen_econf_empty_array_spec.sh
+++ b/tests/shell/external/example_codegen_econf_empty_array_spec.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ check_if_parent_exists() {
 		echo "array parent was found"
 	else
 		echo "did not find array parent spec:/sw/example/econf/#0/current/format/#"
+		return 1
 	fi
 }