diff --git a/src/datajson.c b/src/datajson.c
index cdd0e5e968a..c85569aeaa7 100644
--- a/src/datajson.c
+++ b/src/datajson.c
@@ -330,6 +330,7 @@ static int DatajsonLoadString(Dataset *set, char *json_key, char *array_key)
         fclose(fp);
     } else {
         json_t *json;
+        bool found = false;
 
         if (ParseJsonFile(set->load, &json, array_key) == -1)
             return -1;
@@ -340,10 +341,13 @@ static int DatajsonLoadString(Dataset *set, char *json_key, char *array_key)
             json_t *key = GetSubObjectByKey(value, json_key);
 
             if (key == NULL) {
-                FatalErrorOnInit("Can't find expected key '%s' in object", json_key);
+                /* ignore error as it can be a working mode where some entries
+                are not in the same format */
                 continue;
             }
 
+            found = true;
+
             const char *val = json_string_value(key);
 
             DataJsonType json = { .value = NULL, .len = 0 };
@@ -359,6 +363,12 @@ static int DatajsonLoadString(Dataset *set, char *json_key, char *array_key)
             }
         }
         json_decref(json);
+
+        if (found == false) {
+            FatalErrorOnInit(
+                    "No valid entries for key '%s' found in the file '%s'", json_key, set->load);
+            return -1;
+        }
     }
     THashConsolidateMemcap(set->hash);