diff --git a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/config.go b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/config.go
index a7eae66bfad..12c8b84f377 100644
--- a/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/config.go
+++ b/staging/src/k8s.io/client-go/tools/clientcmd/config.go
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ func (p *persister) Persist(config map[string]string) error {
 	authInfo, ok := newConfig.AuthInfos[p.user]
 	if ok && authInfo.AuthProvider != nil {
 		authInfo.AuthProvider.Config = config
-		ModifyConfig(p.configAccess, *newConfig, false)
+		return ModifyConfig(p.configAccess, *newConfig, false)
 	}
 	return nil
 }