diff --git a/process/process.go b/process/process.go
index 077a9a5a..14079b59 100644
--- a/process/process.go
+++ b/process/process.go
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ func (p *process) start() error {
 
 			p.reconnect(p.delay(stateFailed))
 
-			return nil
+			return err
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/process/process_test.go b/process/process_test.go
index 13db51a3..1f6041eb 100644
--- a/process/process_test.go
+++ b/process/process_test.go
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ func TestProcessCallbacksOnBeforeStart(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = p.Start()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Error(t, err)
 
 	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
 		return p.Status().State == "failed"