diff --git a/scrape/scrape.go b/scrape/scrape.go
index 61c5a2f8f9..80e46e4399 100644
--- a/scrape/scrape.go
+++ b/scrape/scrape.go
@@ -1886,7 +1886,7 @@ loop:
 		sl.l.Warn("Error on ingesting out-of-order exemplars", "num_dropped", appErrs.numExemplarOutOfOrder)
 	}
 	if err == nil {
-		sl.updateStaleMarkers(app, defTime)
+		err = sl.updateStaleMarkers(app, defTime)
 	}
 	return
 }