diff --git a/lib/preprocessor.js b/lib/preprocessor.js
index 8111491bf..0101c9bb6 100644
--- a/lib/preprocessor.js
+++ b/lib/preprocessor.js
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ var createPreprocessor = function (config, basePath, injector) {
           fs.readFile(file.originalPath, handleFile)
           return
         } else {
-          done()
+          throw err
         }
       }
 
diff --git a/test/unit/preprocessor.spec.js b/test/unit/preprocessor.spec.js
index 0336308fe..591483251 100644
--- a/test/unit/preprocessor.spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/preprocessor.spec.js
@@ -261,19 +261,19 @@ describe('preprocessor', () => {
       thirdCallback('error')
     })
 
-    it('should abort after 3 retries', (done) => {
+    it('should tbrow after 3 retries', (done) => {
       var injector = new di.Injector([{}, emitterSetting])
 
       var pp = m.createPreprocessor({'**/*.js': []}, null, injector)
 
-      pp(file, () => {
-        done()
-      })
+      pp(file, () => { })
 
       getReadFileCallback(0)('error')
       getReadFileCallback(1)('error')
       getReadFileCallback(2)('error')
-      getReadFileCallback(3)('error')
+
+      expect(() => getReadFileCallback(0)('error')).to.throw('error')
+      done()
     })
   })