diff --git a/nomad/metainfo/metainfo.py b/nomad/metainfo/metainfo.py index 95d0c467b3af7c7ae03156ba41754adffaa27e78..002149caff441cbe8531da18206bb0be20ac2884 100644 --- a/nomad/metainfo/metainfo.py +++ b/nomad/metainfo/metainfo.py @@ -1523,7 +1523,10 @@ class MSection(metaclass=MObjectMeta): try: definition = self._ensure_definition(def_or_name, hint=hint) except (ValueError, MetainfoError): - return False + raise MetainfoError( + f'{def_or_name} is not found in the definition of {self},' + ' are you calling this method on the correct object?' + ) # derived quantity is always set if isinstance(definition, Quantity) and definition.derived is not None: