diff --git a/src/jdk.jdi/share/classes/com/sun/tools/example/debug/tty/VMConnection.java b/src/jdk.jdi/share/classes/com/sun/tools/example/debug/tty/VMConnection.java
index 7f4ae6939cb..555e8272e81 100644
--- a/src/jdk.jdi/share/classes/com/sun/tools/example/debug/tty/VMConnection.java
+++ b/src/jdk.jdi/share/classes/com/sun/tools/example/debug/tty/VMConnection.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 1998, 2022, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 1998, 2023, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
  *
  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
@@ -544,16 +544,18 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Unable to launch target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         } catch (VMStartException vmse) {
             MessageOutput.println("vmstartexception", vmse.getMessage());
             MessageOutput.println();
             dumpFailedLaunchInfo(vmse.process());
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Target VM failed to initialize.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(vmse);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 
     /* attach to running target vm */
@@ -564,11 +566,12 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Unable to attach to target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 
     /* listen for connection from target vm */
@@ -583,10 +586,11 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Unable to attach to target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             MessageOutput.fatalError("Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 }
diff --git a/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/VMConnection.java b/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/VMConnection.java
index 18bd3d8956a..1444393e46b 100644
--- a/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/VMConnection.java
+++ b/test/jdk/com/sun/jdi/VMConnection.java
@@ -322,15 +322,17 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Unable to launch target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         } catch (VMStartException vmse) {
             System.err.println(vmse.getMessage() + "\n");
             dumpFailedLaunchInfo(vmse.process());
             System.err.println("\n Target VM failed to initialize.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(vmse);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 
     /* attach to running target vm */
@@ -341,11 +343,12 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Unable to attach to target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 
     /* listen for connection from target vm */
@@ -360,10 +363,11 @@ class VMConnection {
         } catch (IOException ioe) {
             ioe.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Unable to attach to target VM.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(ioe);
         } catch (IllegalConnectorArgumentsException icae) {
             icae.printStackTrace();
             System.err.println("\n Internal debugger error.");
+            throw new RuntimeException(icae);
         }
-        return null; // Shuts up the compiler
     }
 }