diff --git a/hudi-utilities/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/utilities/UtilHelpers.java b/hudi-utilities/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/utilities/UtilHelpers.java
index f389695f7bb4d..175ba3d66fd1f 100644
--- a/hudi-utilities/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/utilities/UtilHelpers.java
+++ b/hudi-utilities/src/main/java/org/apache/hudi/utilities/UtilHelpers.java
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ private static Boolean tableExists(Connection conn, Map<String, String> options)
       statement.setQueryTimeout(Integer.parseInt(options.get(JDBCOptions.JDBC_QUERY_TIMEOUT())));
       statement.executeQuery();
     } catch (SQLException e) {
-      return false;
+      throw new HoodieException(e);
     }
     return true;
   }