diff --git a/src/util/json_parser.c b/src/util/json_parser.c
index acd6a08f..724c99a3 100644
--- a/src/util/json_parser.c
+++ b/src/util/json_parser.c
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ static int __parse_json_members(const char *cursor, const char **end,
 		cursor++;
 		ret = __json_string_length(cursor);
 		if (ret < 0)
-			break;
+			return ret;
 
 		memb = (json_member_t *)malloc(offsetof(json_member_t, name) + ret + 1);
 		if (!memb)