diff --git a/cli/internal/validate.go b/cli/internal/validate.go
index 32c818d5..47c36981 100644
--- a/cli/internal/validate.go
+++ b/cli/internal/validate.go
@@ -32,12 +32,12 @@ func ValidateRecipe(args []string, cmdName string) recipe.Recipe {
 
 		localRecipes, err := recipe.GetRecipesLocal()
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
-
-		for _, recipeLocal := range localRecipes {
-			if _, ok := knownRecipes[recipeLocal]; !ok {
-				knownRecipes[recipeLocal] = true
+			log.Infof("can't read local recipes: %s", err)
+		} else {
+			for _, recipeLocal := range localRecipes {
+				if _, ok := knownRecipes[recipeLocal]; !ok {
+					knownRecipes[recipeLocal] = true
+				}
 			}
 		}