diff --git a/lib/executor.js b/lib/executor.js
index a4f51b9..cfbf69a 100644
--- a/lib/executor.js
+++ b/lib/executor.js
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ function runScripts(app, list, callback) {
   var functions = [];
   list.forEach(function(filepath) {
     debug('Requiring script %s', filepath);
-    var exports = tryRequire(filepath);
+    var exports = require(filepath);
     if (typeof exports === 'function') {
       debug('Exported function detected %s', filepath);
       functions.push({
@@ -257,19 +257,6 @@ function runScripts(app, list, callback) {
   }, callback);
 }
 
-function tryRequire(modulePath) {
-  try {
-    return require.apply(this, arguments);
-  } catch (e) {
-    if (e.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND') {
-      debug('Warning: cannot require %s - module not found.', modulePath);
-      return undefined;
-    }
-    console.error('failed to require "%s"', modulePath);
-    throw e;
-  }
-}
-
 function setupMiddleware(app, instructions) {
   if (!instructions.middleware) {
     // the browserified client does not support middleware
diff --git a/test/executor.test.js b/test/executor.test.js
index 2330266..8fd6f86 100644
--- a/test/executor.test.js
+++ b/test/executor.test.js
@@ -175,6 +175,17 @@ describe('executor', function() {
     expect(app.models.Customer._modelsWhenAttached).to.include('UniqueName');
   });
 
+  it('throws on bad require() call inside boot script', function() {
+    var file = appdir.writeFileSync('boot/badScript.js',
+      'require("doesnt-exist"); module.exports = {};');
+
+    function doBoot() {
+      boot.execute(app, someInstructions({ files: { boot: [file] } }));
+    }
+
+    expect(doBoot).to.throw(/Cannot find module \'doesnt-exist\'/);
+  });
+
   it('instantiates data sources', function() {
     boot.execute(app, dummyInstructions);
     assert(app.dataSources);