diff --git a/cmd/lotus/debug_advance.go b/cmd/lotus/debug_advance.go
index 134fd473c..1213b69a9 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus/debug_advance.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus/debug_advance.go
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ func init() {
 			}
 
 			msgs, err := miner.SelectMessages(ctx, api.StateGetActor, head, pending)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
 			if len(msgs) > build.BlockMessageLimit {
 				log.Error("SelectMessages returned too many messages: ", len(msgs))
 				msgs = msgs[:build.BlockMessageLimit]