diff --git a/src/main/java/org/xbib/elasticsearch/jdbc/strategy/standard/StandardSource.java b/src/main/java/org/xbib/elasticsearch/jdbc/strategy/standard/StandardSource.java
index 3a20bdbb..713ab2c0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/xbib/elasticsearch/jdbc/strategy/standard/StandardSource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/xbib/elasticsearch/jdbc/strategy/standard/StandardSource.java
@@ -687,6 +687,8 @@ private void execute(SQLCommand command) throws Exception {
                             .shouldDetectGeo(shouldDetectGeo())
                             .shouldDetectJson(shouldDetectJson());
                     merge(command, results, listener);
+                } else {
+                    throw new SQLException("can't connect to source " + url);
                 }
             } else {
                 // use write connection