diff --git a/Classes/Command/CloneCommandController.php b/Classes/Command/CloneCommandController.php
index 82f3769..548c437 100644
--- a/Classes/Command/CloneCommandController.php
+++ b/Classes/Command/CloneCommandController.php
@@ -181,6 +181,9 @@ protected function cloneRemoteHost(
 
         if ($remotePersistenceConfigurationYaml) {
             $remotePersistenceConfiguration = Yaml::parse($remotePersistenceConfigurationYaml);
+        } else {
+            $this->renderLine("<error>The remote configuration for %s@%s could not be read. Please check the configuration and ensure the correct ssh key was added.</error>", [$user, $host]);
+            $this->quit(1);
         }
         $remoteDataPersistentPath = $path . '/Data/Persistent';