diff --git a/bin/nodetool b/bin/nodetool
index 9d5b659de..ff348ee18 100755
--- a/bin/nodetool
+++ b/bin/nodetool
@@ -134,8 +134,10 @@ do(Args) ->
                     %% format the result as well:
                     case rpc:call(TargetNode, 'Elixir.Kernel', inspect, [Value, [{pretty, true}]]) of
                         {badrpc, Reason} ->
-                            io:format("RPC to ~p failed: ~p~n", [TargetNode, Reason]),
-                            halt(1);
+                            io:format(
+                              "Warning: failed to format term with Elixir syntax. Reason: ~p~n"
+                              "Warning: falling back to Erlang syntax:~n"
+                              "~p~n", [Reason, Value]);
                         PrettyStr ->
                             io:format("~s~n", [PrettyStr])
                     end;