diff --git a/apisix/plugins/opa/helper.lua b/apisix/plugins/opa/helper.lua
index 59e3a8c35cca..b798d9ac97eb 100644
--- a/apisix/plugins/opa/helper.lua
+++ b/apisix/plugins/opa/helper.lua
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ end
 local function get_body_for_request()
     local original_body, err = core.request.get_body()
     if err ~= nil then
-        error("opa - failed to get request body: " .. err)
+        return nil, "failed to get request body: " .. err
     end
     if original_body == nil then
         return nil