diff --git a/robots/rmcd/pilotConnection.c b/robots/rmcd/pilotConnection.c
index 739a45740d5bcbb4d61f96a04ccd64b63e54fce3..bb3fc57309dc2b925951cdaacbaa8dc875c667c3 100644
--- a/robots/rmcd/pilotConnection.c
+++ b/robots/rmcd/pilotConnection.c
@@ -1269,6 +1269,7 @@ void pc_handle_signal(fd_set *rready, fd_set *wready)
 		struct mtp_packet mp;
 
 		if (mtp_receive_packet(mh, &mp) != MTP_PP_SUCCESS) {
+		  fatal("lost pilot connection");
 		    pc->pc_flags &= ~PCF_CONNECTED;
 		    pc->pc_flags |= PCF_CONNECTING;
 		}