diff --git a/src/detection/cpuusage/cpuusage.c b/src/detection/cpuusage/cpuusage.c
index b9b944d32..40e569528 100644
--- a/src/detection/cpuusage/cpuusage.c
+++ b/src/detection/cpuusage/cpuusage.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ retry:
                 ffTimeSleep(options->waitTime);
                 goto retry;
             }
+            return "CPU time did not increase. Try increasing wait time.";
         }
     }