diff --git a/src/main/java/kafdrop/service/KafkaHighLevelAdminClient.java b/src/main/java/kafdrop/service/KafkaHighLevelAdminClient.java
index 26508ae7..ee1cf853 100644
--- a/src/main/java/kafdrop/service/KafkaHighLevelAdminClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/kafdrop/service/KafkaHighLevelAdminClient.java
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ Map<String, Config> describeTopicConfigs(Set<String> topicNames) {
         return Map.of();
       } else if (e.getCause() instanceof TopicAuthorizationException) {
         printAcls();
+        return Map.of();
       }
       throw new KafkaAdminClientException(e);
     }