diff --git a/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go b/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
index 5380d5e63..1c599b8a0 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_volume_balance.go
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ func maybeMoveOneVolume(commandEnv *CommandEnv, volumeReplicas map[uint32][]*Vol
 	}
 
 	if candidateVolume.RemoteStorageName != "" {
-		return false, nil
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("does not move volume in remove storage")
 	}
 
 	if candidateVolume.ReplicaPlacement > 0 {