diff --git a/service-src/service_harbor.c b/service-src/service_harbor.c
index 4eb1ad96..29a54895 100644
--- a/service-src/service_harbor.c
+++ b/service-src/service_harbor.c
@@ -401,6 +401,8 @@ _remote_send_handle(struct harbor *h, uint32_t source, uint32_t destination, int
 		cookie.session = (uint32_t)session;
 		_send_remote(context, fd, msg,sz,&cookie);
 	} else {
+		// throw an error return to source
+		skynet_send(context, destination, source, PTYPE_RESERVED_ERROR, session, NULL, 0);
 		skynet_error(context, "Drop message to harbor %d from %x to %x (session = %d, msgsz = %d)",harbor_id, source, destination,session,(int)sz);
 	}
 	return 0;