diff --git a/src/main/util.ts b/src/main/util.ts
index 1abafac94260e4f68fbdd075f39c597bffe96067..eab61bbc7de6b7bf4e70400296d2387e4edd5e56 100644
--- a/src/main/util.ts
+++ b/src/main/util.ts
@@ -363,7 +363,8 @@ export async function executeInstallStep(argument: string) {
     console.log(
       'Install step failed. TransformerLab directory has not been setup.'
     );
-    return false;
+    const err = new Error('TransformerLab directory has not been setup.');
+    return { error: err, stdout: '', stderr: '' };
   }
 
   const installScriptFilename = 'install.sh';