diff --git a/python/ambassador/ir/irgofilter.py b/python/ambassador/ir/irgofilter.py
index 61c82e066f..a713343480 100644
--- a/python/ambassador/ir/irgofilter.py
+++ b/python/ambassador/ir/irgofilter.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ def setup(self, ir: "IR", _: Config) -> bool:
                 self.logger.error(
                     "%s not found, envoy configuration will fail to apply", GO_FILTER_LIBRARY_PATH
                 )
+                return False
             self.config = GOFilterConfig(library_path=GO_FILTER_LIBRARY_PATH)
             return True
         return False
diff --git a/python/tests/unit/test_gofilter.py b/python/tests/unit/test_gofilter.py
index d994f51c8b..246d3ca99c 100644
--- a/python/tests/unit/test_gofilter.py
+++ b/python/tests/unit/test_gofilter.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def test_gofilter_missing_object_file(go_library, caplog):
     econf = get_envoy_config(MAPPING)
     filters = _get_go_filters(econf.as_dict())
 
-    assert len(filters) == 4
+    assert len(filters) == 0
 
     assert "/ambassador/filter.so not found" in caplog.text