diff --git a/backend/audit/intakelib/checks/check_missing_award_numbers.py b/backend/audit/intakelib/checks/check_missing_award_numbers.py
index b0173274a1..7cc93dc222 100644
--- a/backend/audit/intakelib/checks/check_missing_award_numbers.py
+++ b/backend/audit/intakelib/checks/check_missing_award_numbers.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
 import logging
 from audit.intakelib.intermediate_representation import get_range_by_name
 from .util import get_message, build_cell_error_tuple
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+
 # FIXME: We need comments on all the validations?
 def missing_award_numbers(ir):
     ars = get_range_by_name(ir, "award_reference")
@@ -16,5 +18,6 @@ def missing_award_numbers(ir):
                     ir, ars, index, get_message("check_missing_award_numbers")
                 )
             )
-
-    return errors
+    if len(errors) > 0:
+        logger.info("Raising a validation error.")
+        raise ValidationError(errors)