diff --git a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/help/impl/IdeaHelpBroker.java b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/help/impl/IdeaHelpBroker.java
index 4b5e5d87c232..df62e5fdaa41 100644
--- a/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/help/impl/IdeaHelpBroker.java
+++ b/platform/platform-impl/src/com/intellij/help/impl/IdeaHelpBroker.java
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ class IdeaHelpBroker extends DefaultHelpBroker implements KeyListener{
       setCurrentID(ID.create(id,myHelpSet));
     } catch(InvalidHelpSetContextException ex){
       // this should not happen
-      new Error("internal error?");
+      throw new Error("internal error?");
     }
   }