diff --git a/server.ts b/server.ts
index f04e993f6..f4f448e6b 100644
--- a/server.ts
+++ b/server.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,12 @@ checkFFmpeg(CONFIG)
     process.exit(-1)
   })
 
-checkNodeVersion()
+try {
+  checkNodeVersion()
+} catch (err) {
+  logger.error('Error in NodeJS check.', { err })
+  process.exit(-1)
+}
 
 import { checkConfig, checkActivityPubUrls, checkFFmpegVersion } from './server/initializers/checker-after-init'
 
diff --git a/server/initializers/checker-before-init.ts b/server/initializers/checker-before-init.ts
index 2c24e20c8..d2f3bb128 100644
--- a/server/initializers/checker-before-init.ts
+++ b/server/initializers/checker-before-init.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ function checkNodeVersion () {
   logger.debug('Checking NodeJS version %s.', v)
 
   if (major <= 10) {
-    logger.warn('Your NodeJS version %s is deprecated. Please upgrade.', v)
+    throw new Error('Your NodeJS version ' + v + ' is not supported. Please upgrade.')
   }
 }