diff --git a/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/metrics.go b/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/metrics.go
index 3fd149381..a83e45efc 100644
--- a/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/metrics.go
+++ b/cmd/ctr/commands/tasks/metrics.go
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ var metricsCommand = cli.Command{
 		}
 		metric, err := task.Metrics(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil
+			return err
 		}
 		anydata, err := typeurl.UnmarshalAny(metric.Data)
 		if err != nil {