diff --git a/locator/token_metadata.cc b/locator/token_metadata.cc
index 8db3129083..184cc164f4 100644
--- a/locator/token_metadata.cc
+++ b/locator/token_metadata.cc
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ void token_metadata::update_host_id(const UUID& host_id, inet_address endpoint)
 
 utils::UUID token_metadata::get_host_id(inet_address endpoint) {
     if (!_endpoint_to_host_id_map.count(endpoint)) {
-        std::runtime_error(sprint("host_id for endpoint %s is not found", endpoint));
+        throw std::runtime_error(sprint("host_id for endpoint %s is not found", endpoint));
     }
     return _endpoint_to_host_id_map.at(endpoint);
 }