diff --git a/tools/gtk-builder-tool-validate.c b/tools/gtk-builder-tool-validate.c
index aa4069fd36..688903d3dd 100644
--- a/tools/gtk-builder-tool-validate.c
+++ b/tools/gtk-builder-tool-validate.c
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ parse_template_error (const char   *message,
         *p = '\0';
     }
 
-  return TRUE;
+  return *class_name && *parent_name;
 }
 
 static gboolean