diff --git a/cmd/kubeadm/app/cmd/certs.go b/cmd/kubeadm/app/cmd/certs.go
index 045af329be2..a84f1fe03a9 100644
--- a/cmd/kubeadm/app/cmd/certs.go
+++ b/cmd/kubeadm/app/cmd/certs.go
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func getRenewSubCommands(out io.Writer, kdir string) []*cobra.Command {
 			// Get a renewal manager for a actual Cluster configuration
 			rm, err := renewal.NewManager(&internalcfg.ClusterConfiguration, kdir)
 			if err != nil {
-				return nil
+				return err
 			}
 
 			// Renew certificates