diff --git a/plugins/inputs/socket_listener/socket_listener.go b/plugins/inputs/socket_listener/socket_listener.go
index 391427da9070e..ed007a00acbf2 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/socket_listener/socket_listener.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/socket_listener/socket_listener.go
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (sl *SocketListener) Start(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 
 		tlsCfg, err := sl.ServerConfig.TLSConfig()
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil
+			return err
 		}
 
 		if tlsCfg == nil {