diff --git a/boltease.go b/boltease.go
index 5199b6c..4590cdf 100644
--- a/boltease.go
+++ b/boltease.go
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func (b *DB) GetValueList(path []string) ([]string, error) {
 	var ret []string
 	if !b.dbIsOpen {
 		if err = b.OpenDB(); err != nil {
-			return err
+			return ret, err
 		}
 		defer b.CloseDB()
 	}