diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/tool_shed/controllers/upload.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/tool_shed/controllers/upload.py
index 8d0d822c7e3..3d3751d9a5c 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/tool_shed/controllers/upload.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/tool_shed/controllers/upload.py
@@ -295,9 +295,8 @@ class UploadController( BaseUIController ):
                     elif os.path.split( uploaded_file_name )[ -1 ] == suc.TOOL_DEPENDENCY_DEFINITION_FILENAME:
                         # Inspect the contents of the file to see if changeset_revision values are missing and if so, set them appropriately.
                         altered, root_elem, error_message = commit_util.handle_tool_dependencies_definition( trans, uploaded_file_name )
-                        # Can this be displayed?
                         if error_message:
-                            log.debug( str( error_message ) )
+                            return False, error_message, [], '', [], []
                         if altered:
                             tmp_filename = xml_util.create_and_write_tmp_file( root_elem )
                             shutil.move( tmp_filename, uploaded_file_name )
@@ -360,8 +359,7 @@ class UploadController( BaseUIController ):
                     # Inspect the contents of the file to see if changeset_revision values are missing and if so, set them appropriately.
                     altered, root_elem, error_message = commit_util.handle_tool_dependencies_definition( trans, uploaded_file_name )
                     if error_message:
-                        # Can this be displayed?
-                        log.debug( error_message )
+                        return False, error_message, [], '', [], []
                     if altered:
                         tmp_filename = xml_util.create_and_write_tmp_file( root_elem )
                         shutil.move( tmp_filename, uploaded_file_name )