diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/IpSecService.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/IpSecService.java
index ec275cc6f7..c6fcd4bbd0 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/IpSecService.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/IpSecService.java
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ public class IpSecService extends IIpSecService.Stub {
         public void setOwnedByTransform() {
             if (mOwnedByTransform) {
                 // Programming error
-                new IllegalStateException("Cannot own an SPI twice!");
+                throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot own an SPI twice!");
             }
 
             mOwnedByTransform = true;