diff --git a/testutil/server.go b/testutil/server.go
index e901217818..7573790aa6 100644
--- a/testutil/server.go
+++ b/testutil/server.go
@@ -165,7 +165,8 @@ func NewTestServer(t TestingT) *TestServer {
 // an optional callback function to modify the configuration.
 func NewTestServerConfig(t TestingT, cb ServerConfigCallback) *TestServer {
 	if path, err := exec.LookPath("consul"); err != nil || path == "" {
-		t.Skip("consul not found on $PATH, skipping")
+		t.Fatal("consul not found on $PATH - download and install " + 
+				"consul or skip this test")
 	}
 
 	dataDir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "consul")