diff --git a/bin/named/server.c b/bin/named/server.c
index 471793418e..dd0b859cfd 100644
--- a/bin/named/server.c
+++ b/bin/named/server.c
@@ -2682,13 +2682,13 @@ catz_addmodzone_taskaction(isc_task_t *task, isc_event_t *event0) {
 	ns_cfgctx_t *cfg;
 	dns_zone_t *zone = NULL;
 
+	/*
+	 * A non-empty 'catalog-zones' statement implies that 'allow-new-zones'
+	 * is true, so this is expected to be non-NULL.
+	 */
 	cfg = (ns_cfgctx_t *)ev->view->new_zone_config;
 	if (cfg == NULL) {
-		isc_log_write(named_g_lctx, NAMED_LOGCATEGORY_GENERAL,
-			      NAMED_LOGMODULE_SERVER, ISC_LOG_ERROR,
-			      "catz: allow-new-zones statement missing from "
-			      "config; cannot add zone from the catalog");
-		goto cleanup;
+		CHECK(ISC_R_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	name = dns_catz_entry_getname(ev->entry);
@@ -3058,14 +3058,13 @@ catz_reconfigure(dns_catz_entry_t *entry, dns_view_t *view,
 		return;
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * A non-empty 'catalog-zones' statement implies that 'allow-new-zones'
+	 * is true, so this is expected to be non-NULL.
+	 */
 	cfg = (ns_cfgctx_t *)view->new_zone_config;
 	if (cfg == NULL) {
-		isc_log_write(named_g_lctx, NAMED_LOGCATEGORY_GENERAL,
-			      NAMED_LOGMODULE_SERVER, ISC_LOG_ERROR,
-			      "catz_reconfigure: allow-new-zones statement "
-			      "missing from config; cannot reconfigure a "
-			      "member zone");
-		goto cleanup;
+		CHECK(ISC_R_FAILURE);
 	}
 
 	result = dns_catz_generate_zonecfg(data->catz, entry, &confbuf);