diff --git a/awx/main/access.py b/awx/main/access.py
index 485af5a7ef..9d4cee370b 100644
--- a/awx/main/access.py
+++ b/awx/main/access.py
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ class BaseAccess(object):
         if check_expiration and validation_info.get('time_remaining', None) is None:
             raise PermissionDenied(_("License is missing."))
         if check_expiration and validation_info.get("grace_period_remaining") <= 0:
-            logger.error(_("License has expired."))
+            raise PermissionDenied(_("License has expired."))
 
         free_instances = validation_info.get('free_instances', 0)
         available_instances = validation_info.get('available_instances', 0)
@@ -316,11 +316,11 @@ class BaseAccess(object):
         if add_host_name:
             host_exists = Host.objects.filter(name=add_host_name).exists()
             if not host_exists and free_instances == 0:
-                logger.error(_("License count of %s instances has been reached.") % available_instances)
+                raise PermissionDenied(_("License count of %s instances has been reached.") % available_instances)
             elif not host_exists and free_instances < 0:
-                logger.error(_("License count of %s instances has been exceeded.") % available_instances)
+                raise PermissionDenied(_("License count of %s instances has been exceeded.") % available_instances)
         elif not add_host_name and free_instances < 0:
-            raise logger.error(_("Host count exceeds available instances."))
+            raise PermissionDenied(_("Host count exceeds available instances."))
 
         if feature is not None:
             if "features" in validation_info and not validation_info["features"].get(feature, False):
diff --git a/awx/main/management/commands/inventory_import.py b/awx/main/management/commands/inventory_import.py
index 4f327bc353..8468f8e41f 100644
--- a/awx/main/management/commands/inventory_import.py
+++ b/awx/main/management/commands/inventory_import.py
@@ -904,6 +904,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         new_count = Host.objects.active_count()
         if time_remaining <= 0 and not license_info.get('demo', False):
             logger.error(LICENSE_EXPIRED_MESSAGE)
+            raise CommandError("License has expired!")
         if free_instances < 0:
             d = {
                 'new_count': new_count,
@@ -913,6 +914,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 logger.error(DEMO_LICENSE_MESSAGE % d)
             else:
                 logger.error(LICENSE_MESSAGE % d)
+            raise CommandError('License count exceeded!')
 
     def mark_license_failure(self, save=True):
         self.inventory_update.license_error = True