diff --git a/lib/outputlib.php b/lib/outputlib.php
index b2d44e6af2a..50f4ed5dde9 100644
--- a/lib/outputlib.php
+++ b/lib/outputlib.php
@@ -2472,9 +2472,7 @@ class theme_config {
             }
         }
 
-        debugging('Can not find layout file for: ' . $pagelayout);
-        // fallback to standard normal layout
-        return "$CFG->dirroot/theme/base/layout/general.php";
+        throw new coding_exception('Can not find layout file for: ' . $pagelayout . ' (' . $layoutfile . ')');
     }
 
     /**