diff --git a/nova/cmd/api.py b/nova/cmd/api.py
index 36c23b6a2281..6964d77d240f 100644
--- a/nova/cmd/api.py
+++ b/nova/cmd/api.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import six
 
 from nova import config
 from nova import exception
-from nova.i18n import _LW
+from nova.i18n import _LE, _LW
 from nova import objects
 from nova import service
 from nova import utils
@@ -50,14 +50,21 @@ def main():
     gmr.TextGuruMeditation.setup_autorun(version)
 
     launcher = service.process_launcher()
+    started = 0
     for api in CONF.enabled_apis:
         should_use_ssl = api in CONF.enabled_ssl_apis
         try:
             server = service.WSGIService(api, use_ssl=should_use_ssl)
             launcher.launch_service(server, workers=server.workers or 1)
+            started += 1
         except exception.PasteAppNotFound as ex:
             log.warning(
                 _LW("%s. ``enabled_apis`` includes bad values. "
                     "Fix to remove this warning."), six.text_type(ex))
 
+    if started == 0:
+        log.error(_LE('No APIs were started. '
+                      'Check the enabled_apis config option.'))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     launcher.wait()
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/cmd/test_nova_api.py b/nova/tests/unit/cmd/test_nova_api.py
index 43c31c8c9c67..d9477afbb8e3 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/cmd/test_nova_api.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/cmd/test_nova_api.py
@@ -65,3 +65,25 @@ class TestNovaAPI(test.NoDBTestCase):
             launcher = mock_service.process_launcher.return_value
             launcher.launch_service.assert_called_once_with(
                 fake_server, workers=123)
+
+    @mock.patch('sys.exit')
+    def test_fails_if_none_started(self, mock_exit):
+        mock_exit.side_effect = test.TestingException
+        self.flags(enabled_apis=[])
+        with mock.patch.object(api, 'service') as mock_service:
+            self.assertRaises(test.TestingException, api.main)
+            mock_exit.assert_called_once_with(1)
+            launcher = mock_service.process_launcher.return_value
+            self.assertFalse(launcher.wait.called)
+
+    @mock.patch('sys.exit')
+    def test_fails_if_all_failed(self, mock_exit):
+        mock_exit.side_effect = test.TestingException
+        self.flags(enabled_apis=['foo', 'bar'])
+        with mock.patch.object(api, 'service') as mock_service:
+            mock_service.WSGIService.side_effect = exception.PasteAppNotFound(
+                name='foo', path='/')
+            self.assertRaises(test.TestingException, api.main)
+            mock_exit.assert_called_once_with(1)
+            launcher = mock_service.process_launcher.return_value
+            self.assertFalse(launcher.wait.called)