diff --git a/lib/generate.js b/lib/generate.js
index 7587d6ff90..99ee140463 100644
--- a/lib/generate.js
+++ b/lib/generate.js
@@ -52,11 +52,12 @@ export default function () {
   })
   .then(() => {
     // Resolve config.generate.routes promises before generating the routes
-    return promisifyRoute(this.options.generate.routes)
+    return promisifyRoute(this.options.generate.routes || [])
     .catch((e) => {
-      console.error(`Could not resolve routes`) // eslint-disable-line no-console
+      console.error('Could not resolve routes') // eslint-disable-line no-console
       console.error(e) // eslint-disable-line no-console
       process.exit(1)
+      throw e
     })
   })
   .then((generateRoutes) => {