diff --git a/solvebio/cli/ipython.py b/solvebio/cli/ipython.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/solvebio/cli/ipython.py
+++ b/solvebio/cli/ipython.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ def launch_ipython_shell(args):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     except ImportError:
         print("The SolveBio Python shell requires IPython.\n"
               "To install, type: 'pip install ipython'")
+        return False
 
     try:
         # see if we're already inside IPython
make sure to return after the ipython cli fails to import ipython