diff --git a/mpsd-software-environment.py b/mpsd-software-environment.py
index 3a9c4d3035ca9acf762b8c5c6e9c0a25e37ea7b1..c88903d5238381a8002f784ea1b1df9f3a485640 100755
--- a/mpsd-software-environment.py
+++ b/mpsd-software-environment.py
@@ -839,11 +839,11 @@ def environment_status(mpsd_release, script_dir):
     (release_base_dir / sys_microarch / "lmod" / "Core" / "toolchains")
 
     if not spack_dir.exists():
-        logging.warn(
+        logging.error(
             f"Release {mpsd_release} has not been completly installed yet"
             ", try reinstalling it (spack directory not found)"
         )
-        sys.exit(1)
+        return
     # find all folders for all microarch in the release directory
     # except for the blacklisted files
     black_listed_files = [