diff --git a/test/graph_test.py b/test/graph_test.py
index 1d2af1212..215f978a7 100755
--- a/test/graph_test.py
+++ b/test/graph_test.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
             file.write(xml)
 
     # Validate the graph schema
-    assert "invalid" not in base.warcli(f"graph validate {Path(tf)}")
+    assert "invalid" not in base.warcli(f"graph validate {Path(tf)}", False)
     print(f"Graph at {tf} validated successfully")
 
     # Test that the graph actually works
diff --git a/test/test_base.py b/test/test_base.py
index e9d010367..da8aee186 100644
--- a/test/test_base.py
+++ b/test/test_base.py
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ def warcli(self, str, network=True):
         if network:
             cmd += ["--network", self.network_name]
         proc = run(cmd, capture_output=True)
+
+        if proc.stderr:
+            raise Exception(proc.stderr.decode().strip())
         return proc.stdout.decode().strip()
 
     # Execute a warnet RPC API call directly (may return dict or list)