diff --git a/etcdutil/config.go b/etcdutil/config.go
index 2f25f5fa..af15098c 100644
--- a/etcdutil/config.go
+++ b/etcdutil/config.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ func init() {
 func NewSecureClient(cfg *etcd.Config) (*etcd.Client, error) {
 	var err error
 	if cfg, err = NewEtcdConfig(cfg); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to build etcd config")
 	}
 
 	etcdClt, err := etcd.New(*cfg)
diff --git a/version b/version
index 6a126f40..a8fdfda1 100644
--- a/version
+++ b/version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.7.5
+1.8.1