diff --git a/pkg/client/fake/client.go b/pkg/client/fake/client.go
index a433190c6a..2e9a64a74c 100644
--- a/pkg/client/fake/client.go
+++ b/pkg/client/fake/client.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
 	"strings"
 
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/api/meta"
@@ -32,14 +31,9 @@ import (
 
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/client/apiutil"
-	logf "sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/internal/log"
 	"sigs.k8s.io/controller-runtime/pkg/internal/objectutil"
 )
 
-var (
-	log = logf.RuntimeLog.WithName("fake-client")
-)
-
 type fakeClient struct {
 	tracker testing.ObjectTracker
 	scheme  *runtime.Scheme
@@ -63,9 +57,7 @@ func NewFakeClientWithScheme(clientScheme *runtime.Scheme, initObjs ...runtime.O
 	for _, obj := range initObjs {
 		err := tracker.Add(obj)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Error(err, "failed to add object to fake client", "object", obj)
-			os.Exit(1)
-			return nil
+			panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to add object %v to fake client: %v", obj, err))
 		}
 	}
 	return &fakeClient{