diff --git a/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManager.kt b/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManager.kt
index 8a1209a8..7b6cd96e 100644
--- a/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManager.kt
+++ b/modules/kobalt-plugin-api/src/main/kotlin/com/beust/kobalt/maven/DependencyManager.kt
@@ -35,10 +35,11 @@ class DependencyManager @Inject constructor(val executors: KobaltExecutors, val
                     // the first one that produces an actual file
                     val result = listOf(File(projectDirectory), Kobalt.context?.internalContext?.absoluteDir).map {
                         File(it, idPath)
-                    }.first {
+                    }.firstOrNull {
                         it.exists()
                     }
-                    result
+                    result ?: throw KobaltException("Couldn't find $id")
+
                 } else {
                     File(idPath)
                 }