diff --git a/mariadb/templates/monitoring/prometheus/bin/_create-mysql-user.sh.tpl b/mariadb/templates/monitoring/prometheus/bin/_create-mysql-user.sh.tpl
index 85b30ce77..594880fa6 100644
--- a/mariadb/templates/monitoring/prometheus/bin/_create-mysql-user.sh.tpl
+++ b/mariadb/templates/monitoring/prometheus/bin/_create-mysql-user.sh.tpl
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 set -e
 
-mysql --defaults-file=/etc/mysql/admin_user.cnf -e \
+if ! mysql --defaults-file=/etc/mysql/admin_user.cnf -e \
   "CREATE OR REPLACE USER '${EXPORTER_USER}'@'%' IDENTIFIED BY '${EXPORTER_PASSWORD}'; \
    GRANT PROCESS, REPLICATION CLIENT, SELECT ON *.* TO '${EXPORTER_USER}'@'%'; \
-   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;"
+   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;" ; then
+  echo "ERROR: Could not create user: ${EXPORTER_USER}"
+  exit 1
+fi