diff --git a/src/as-pool.c b/src/as-pool.c
index 67704b75..c381e418 100644
--- a/src/as-pool.c
+++ b/src/as-pool.c
@@ -1014,6 +1014,12 @@ as_pool_load (AsPool *pool, GCancellable *cancellable, GError **error)
 
 	/* automatically refine the metadata we have in the pool */
 	ret = as_pool_refine_data (pool) && ret;
+	
+	/* report errors if there were errors from as_pool_refine_data */
+	if (!ret && error && !*error)
+		*error = g_new_error_literal(AS_POOL_ERROR,
+					     AS_POOL_ERROR_INCOMPLETE,
+					     "Some components are invalid. See debug output for details");
 
 	return ret;
 }