diff --git a/octodns/provider/yaml.py b/octodns/provider/yaml.py
index 50a4c3a..23e65ef 100644
--- a/octodns/provider/yaml.py
+++ b/octodns/provider/yaml.py
@@ -353,9 +353,7 @@ class YamlProvider(BaseProvider):
             sources.append(join(self.directory, self.shared_filename))
 
         if not sources:
-            self.log.info(
-                'populate:   no YAMLs found for %s', zone.decoded_name
-            )
+            raise ProviderException(f'no YAMLs found for {zone.decoded_name}')
 
         # determinstically order our sources
         sources.sort()
diff --git a/tests/test_octodns_provider_yaml.py b/tests/test_octodns_provider_yaml.py
index 901819a..b98c067 100644
--- a/tests/test_octodns_provider_yaml.py
+++ b/tests/test_octodns_provider_yaml.py
@@ -663,8 +663,8 @@ class TestSplitYamlProvider(TestCase):
         zone = Zone('empty.', [])
 
         # without it we see everything
-        source.populate(zone)
-        self.assertEqual(0, len(zone.records))
+        with self.assertRaises(ProviderException):
+            source.populate(zone)
 
     def test_unsorted(self):
         source = SplitYamlProvider(