diff --git a/ly-core/src/root.zig b/ly-core/src/root.zig
index ad32484..c52d7d4 100644
--- a/ly-core/src/root.zig
+++ b/ly-core/src/root.zig
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ pub fn LuaParser(comptime Struct: type) type {
 
             // handle missing required fields
             if (lua.isNil(-1)) {
-                return;
+                return error.MissingRequiredField;
             }
             const actual_type_info = @typeInfo(actual_type);