diff --git a/cmd-source-file.c b/cmd-source-file.c
index a22c38e6..d88f74cf 100644
--- a/cmd-source-file.c
+++ b/cmd-source-file.c
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ cmd_source_file_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 		globfree(&g);
 	}
 	if (cfg_finished) {
+		if (retval == CMD_RETURN_ERROR && c->session == NULL)
+			c->retval = 1;
 		new_item = cmdq_get_callback(cmd_source_file_done, NULL);
 		cmdq_insert_after(item, new_item);
 	}