diff --git a/openerp/http.py b/openerp/http.py
index 5b85c07efff..994a396ffa7 100644
--- a/openerp/http.py
+++ b/openerp/http.py
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ class WebRequest(object):
         to a database.
         """
         if not self.db:
-            return RuntimeError('request not bound to a database')
+            raise RuntimeError('request not bound to a database')
         return openerp.api.Environment(self.cr, self.uid, self.context)
 
     @lazy_property
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class WebRequest(object):
         # can not be a lazy_property because manual rollback in _call_function
         # if already set (?)
         if not self.db:
-            return RuntimeError('request not bound to a database')
+            raise RuntimeError('request not bound to a database')
         if not self._cr:
             self._cr = self.registry.cursor()
         return self._cr