diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
index b7abdf8943..63b8dc6c5a 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/ui/knotty.py
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ def main(server, eventHandler):
                 logger.info("consider defining a PREFERRED_PROVIDER entry to match %s", event._item)
                 continue
             if isinstance(event, bb.event.NoProvider):
+                return_value = 1
                 if event._runtime:
                     r = "R"
                 else: