diff --git a/src/bitcoinrpc.cpp b/src/bitcoinrpc.cpp
index d7376579283..a8d9a57f7c1 100644
--- a/src/bitcoinrpc.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoinrpc.cpp
@@ -1509,7 +1509,8 @@ Value backupwallet(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
             "Safely copies wallet.dat to destination, which can be a directory or a path with filename.");
 
     string strDest = params[0].get_str();
-    BackupWallet(*pwalletMain, strDest);
+    if (!BackupWallet(*pwalletMain, strDest))
+        throw JSONRPCError(RPC_WALLET_ERROR, "Error: Wallet backup failed!");
 
     return Value::null;
 }