diff --git a/changelog/24136.txt b/changelog/24136.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..eaf2e2521681
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/24136.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+sdk: Return error when failure occurs setting up node 0 in NewDockerCluster, instead of ignoring it.
+```
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/sdk/helper/testcluster/docker/environment.go b/sdk/helper/testcluster/docker/environment.go
index 13ee908a470f..6ce2b1613423 100644
--- a/sdk/helper/testcluster/docker/environment.go
+++ b/sdk/helper/testcluster/docker/environment.go
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ func (dc *DockerCluster) setupDockerCluster(ctx context.Context, opts *DockerClu
 		}
 		if i == 0 {
 			if err := dc.setupNode0(ctx); err != nil {
-				return nil
+				return err
 			}
 		} else {
 			if err := dc.joinNode(ctx, i, 0); err != nil {