diff --git a/src/platform.js b/src/platform.js
index 2d22cf425..d6840205b 100644
--- a/src/platform.js
+++ b/src/platform.js
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ async function start(options) {
             // LOST is when existing connection breaks. REFUSED is when new connection cannot connect at all
             const retry = error.reason === BoxError.DATABASE_ERROR && (error.code === 'PROTOCOL_CONNECTION_LOST' || error.code === 'ECONNREFUSED');
             debug(`Failed to start services. retry=${retry} (attempt ${attempt}): ${error.message}`);
-            if (!retry) break;
+            if (!retry) throw error; // refuse to start
             await delay(10000);
         }
     }