diff --git a/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/exec/ExecUtil.java b/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/exec/ExecUtil.java
index de40ab6f0e..afc0b51b62 100644
--- a/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/exec/ExecUtil.java
+++ b/bundles/org.openhab.core.io.net/src/main/java/org/openhab/core/io/net/exec/ExecUtil.java
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public class ExecUtil {
                     logger.debug("exit code '{}', result '{}', errors '{}'", exitCode, outputFuture.get(),
                             errorFuture.get());
                 }
-                return null;
+                return errorFuture.get();
             }
         } catch (ExecutionException e) {
             if (logger.isDebugEnabled()) {