diff --git a/ironic_inspector/introspect.py b/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
index 94f5f1225..8190d072d 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/introspect.py
@@ -106,15 +106,15 @@ def _background_introspect_locked(node_info, ironic):
             ironic.node.set_boot_device(node_info.uuid, 'pxe',
                                         persistent=False)
         except Exception as exc:
-            LOG.warning('Failed to set boot device to PXE: %s',
-                        exc, node_info=node_info)
+            raise utils.Error(_('Failed to set boot device to PXE: %s') % exc,
+                              node_info=node_info)
 
         try:
             ironic.node.set_power_state(node_info.uuid, 'reboot')
         except Exception as exc:
             raise utils.Error(_('Failed to power on the node, check it\'s '
-                                'power management configuration: %s'),
-                              exc, node_info=node_info)
+                                'power management configuration: %s') % exc,
+                              node_info=node_info)
         LOG.info('Introspection started successfully',
                  node_info=node_info)
     else:
diff --git a/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_introspect.py b/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_introspect.py
index c46f8ab19..b93086fc6 100644
--- a/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_introspect.py
+++ b/ironic_inspector/test/unit/test_introspect.py
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ class TestIntrospect(BaseTest):
 
     def test_power_failure(self, client_mock, start_mock):
         cli = self._prepare(client_mock)
-        cli.node.set_boot_device.side_effect = exceptions.BadRequest()
         cli.node.set_power_state.side_effect = exceptions.BadRequest()
         start_mock.return_value = self.node_info
 
@@ -163,6 +162,28 @@ class TestIntrospect(BaseTest):
         self.node_info.acquire_lock.assert_called_once_with()
         self.node_info.release_lock.assert_called_once_with()
 
+    def test_set_boot_device_failure(self, client_mock, start_mock):
+        cli = self._prepare(client_mock)
+        cli.node.set_boot_device.side_effect = exceptions.BadRequest()
+        start_mock.return_value = self.node_info
+
+        introspect.introspect(self.node.uuid)
+
+        cli.node.get.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid)
+
+        start_mock.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid,
+                                           bmc_address=self.bmc_address,
+                                           manage_boot=True,
+                                           ironic=cli)
+        cli.node.set_boot_device.assert_called_once_with(self.uuid,
+                                                         'pxe',
+                                                         persistent=False)
+        cli.node.set_power_state.assert_not_called()
+        start_mock.return_value.finished.assert_called_once_with(
+            introspect.istate.Events.error, error=mock.ANY)
+        self.node_info.acquire_lock.assert_called_once_with()
+        self.node_info.release_lock.assert_called_once_with()
+
     def test_no_macs(self, client_mock, start_mock):
         cli = self._prepare(client_mock)
         self.node_info.ports.return_value = []
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/stop-when-setbootdev-failed-68d84fec0843bdc8.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/stop-when-setbootdev-failed-68d84fec0843bdc8.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..832987ee0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/stop-when-setbootdev-failed-68d84fec0843bdc8.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Stops introspection when setting boot device is failed, as the node is
+    not guarenteed to perform a PXE boot in this case.