diff --git a/lib/JsonNode.cpp b/lib/JsonNode.cpp
index 41edb62ab..bae2f077c 100644
--- a/lib/JsonNode.cpp
+++ b/lib/JsonNode.cpp
@@ -829,7 +829,13 @@ std::shared_ptr<Bonus> JsonUtils::parseBonus(const JsonNode &ability)
 	auto b = std::make_shared<Bonus>();
 	if (!parseBonus(ability, b.get()))
 	{
-		return nullptr;
+		// caller code can not handle this case and presumes that returned bonus is always valid
+		logGlobal->error("Failed to parse bonus! Json config was %S ", ability.toJson());
+
+		b->type = BonusType::NONE;
+		assert(0); // or throw? Game *should* work with dummy bonus
+
+		return b;
 	}
 	return b;
 }