diff --git a/sau/gentoo.py b/sau/gentoo.py
index 86742a6..23f691d 100644
--- a/sau/gentoo.py
+++ b/sau/gentoo.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def pkg_upgrade():
                 raise sau.errors.UpgradeError(f"Kernel package {name} has an update, but system upgrade is disabled")
 
     if not do_rebuild:
-        sau.errors.UpgradeError('Some packages require manual attention, did not upgrade')
+        raise sau.errors.UpgradeError('Some packages require manual attention, did not upgrade')
 
     cmd = [ EMERGE_PATH, '--color', 'n', '-uDNq', '--with-bdeps=y', '@world' ]
     ret, out, err = sau.helpers.exec_cmd(cmd, timeout=72000)