diff --git a/test/service.py b/test/service.py
index 045d780e7..06ffd404a 100644
--- a/test/service.py
+++ b/test/service.py
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ def wait_for(self, pattern, timeout=30):
         start = time.time()
         while True:
             if not self.is_alive():
-                raise RuntimeError("Child thread died already.")
+                log.error("Child thread died already.")
+                return False
 
             elapsed = time.time() - start
             if elapsed >= timeout: