diff --git a/metropolis/node/core/cluster/cluster_bootstrap.go b/metropolis/node/core/cluster/cluster_bootstrap.go
index 78dea0b..d86f995 100644
--- a/metropolis/node/core/cluster/cluster_bootstrap.go
+++ b/metropolis/node/core/cluster/cluster_bootstrap.go
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@
 	} else {
 		var err error
 		cc, err = curator.ClusterConfigurationFromInitial(bootstrap.InitialClusterConfiguration)
-		return fmt.Errorf("invalid initial cluster configuration: %w", err)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid initial cluster configuration: %w", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	tpmUsage, err := cc.NodeTPMUsage(m.haveTPM)