diff --git a/metropolis/test/util/curator.go b/metropolis/test/util/curator.go
index 7d1f36a..39b2610 100644
--- a/metropolis/test/util/curator.go
+++ b/metropolis/test/util/curator.go
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@
 	externalLis := bufconn.Listen(1024 * 1024)
 	go func() {
 		if err := srv.Serve(externalLis); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("GRPC serve failed: %v", err)
+			t.Errorf("GRPC serve failed: %v", err)
+			return
 		}
 	}()
 	withLocalDialer := grpc.WithContextDialer(func(_ context.Context, _ string) (net.Conn, error) {