diff --git a/core/commands/dag/dag.go b/core/commands/dag/dag.go
index 7d21eb0710f..41fde70e506 100644
--- a/core/commands/dag/dag.go
+++ b/core/commands/dag/dag.go
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ Specification of CAR formats: https://ipld.io/specs/transport/car/
 			}
 
 			if event.Root.PinErrorMsg != "" {
-				event.Root.PinErrorMsg = fmt.Sprintf("FAILED: %s", event.Root.PinErrorMsg)
+				return fmt.Errorf("pinning root %q FAILED: %s", enc.Encode(event.Root.Cid), event.Root.PinErrorMsg)
 			} else {
 				event.Root.PinErrorMsg = "success"
 			}