diff --git a/src/updater.js b/src/updater.js
index cb286a4be..670434e39 100644
--- a/src/updater.js
+++ b/src/updater.js
@@ -176,7 +176,10 @@ async function updateBox(boxUpdateInfo, options, progressCallback) {
     debug(`Updating box with ${boxUpdateInfo.sourceTarballUrl}`);
     progressCallback({ percent: 70, message: 'Installing update...' });
     const [error] = await safe(shell.sudo([ UPDATE_CMD, packageInfo.file, process.stdout.logFile ], {}));  // run installer.sh from new box code as a separate service
-    if (error) await locks.release(locks.TYPE_BOX_UPDATE);
+    if (error) {
+        await locks.release(locks.TYPE_BOX_UPDATE);
+        throw new BoxError(BoxError.EXTERNAL_ERROR, 'Update failed. Check logs for more information.');
+    }
 
     // Do not add any code here. The installer script will stop the box code any instant
 }