diff --git a/hooks/pg_dir_hooks.py b/hooks/pg_dir_hooks.py
index 037cb9d..add2a4d 100755
--- a/hooks/pg_dir_hooks.py
+++ b/hooks/pg_dir_hooks.py
@@ -137,8 +137,7 @@ def config_changed():
         status_set('maintenance', 'Upgrading apt packages')
         stop_pg()
         if charm_config.changed('install_sources'):
-            if not configure_pg_sources():
-                log('IOError: /etc/apt/sources.list couldn\'t be updated')
+            configure_pg_sources()
         configure_sources(update=True)
         pkgs = determine_packages()
         for pkg in pkgs:
diff --git a/hooks/pg_dir_utils.py b/hooks/pg_dir_utils.py
index 4401fc7..aaa0f03 100644
--- a/hooks/pg_dir_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/pg_dir_utils.py
@@ -101,9 +101,8 @@ def configure_pg_sources():
                 sources.write(i)
             sources.truncate()
         sources.close()
-        return True
     except IOError:
-        return False
+        raise IOError('Unable to access /etc/apt/sources.list')
 
 
 def determine_packages():