--- a/src/java/de/intevation/mxd/reader/GdbRasterCatalogLayerReader.java	Thu Jun 16 12:05:34 2011 +0200
+++ b/src/java/de/intevation/mxd/reader/GdbRasterCatalogLayerReader.java	Thu Jun 16 14:06:09 2011 +0200
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@
      *
      * @return The layer XML element.
      */
-    public Element read() {
+    public Element read()
+    throws IOException {
         logger.debug("read()");
 
         Element layerElement;
@@ -66,7 +67,9 @@
             logger.error(
                 "Could not create DOM element for layer." +
                 "Stopped reading layer.");
-            return null;
+            throw new IOException(
+                this.getClass()+toString() +
+                "Error creating dom element");
         }
 
         try {