diff --git a/cmd/mattermost/commands/export.go b/cmd/mattermost/commands/export.go
index fc9a8b8113..4e7ce4cba6 100644
--- a/cmd/mattermost/commands/export.go
+++ b/cmd/mattermost/commands/export.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func buildExportCmdF(format string) func(command *cobra.Command, args []string)
 		}
 
 		if a.MessageExport() == nil {
-			CommandPrettyPrintln("MessageExport feature not available")
+			return errors.New("message export feature not available")
 		}
 
 		err2 := a.MessageExport().RunExport(format, startTime)