diff --git a/src/EntityManager.cpp b/src/EntityManager.cpp
index e490420..9f95d0e 100644
--- a/src/EntityManager.cpp
+++ b/src/EntityManager.cpp
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@
                        "available\n";
                 if (interfaceConnections.empty())
                 {
-                    return;
+                    // if we can't get the mapper data on the first run,
+                    // something is very wrong
+                    std::exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
                 }
             }
             else