diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-imx/hab.c b/arch/arm/mach-imx/hab.c
index dbfd692fa3..d42a15e877 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-imx/hab.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-imx/hab.c
@@ -585,8 +585,10 @@ int imx_hab_authenticate_image(uint32_t ddr_start, uint32_t image_size,
 	}
 
 	/* Verify if IVT DCD pointer is NULL */
-	if (ivt->dcd)
-		puts("Warning: DCD pointer should be NULL\n");
+	if (ivt->dcd) {
+		puts("Error: DCD pointer must be NULL\n");
+		goto hab_authentication_exit;
+	}
 
 	start = ddr_start;
 	bytes = image_size;