diff --git a/web/clitools/getinstinfo.php b/web/clitools/getinstinfo.php
index 1da9ed2..ed324e6 100755
--- a/web/clitools/getinstinfo.php
+++ b/web/clitools/getinstinfo.php
@@ -611,7 +611,13 @@ $query.=implode(', ',$set);
 if (!is_null($oidata)) $query.=' WHERE ID='.$oidata['ID'];
 
 eecho(1,'query: «'.$query.'».'.N);
-if (!$opts['dryrun']) myq($link,$query,__LINE__);
+if (!$opts['dryrun']) {
+	if (!is_null($oidata) || $instanswered) {
+		myq($link,$query,__LINE__);
+	} else {
+		mexit('«'.$opts['hostname'].'»: not inserting unknown instance because it did not respond; shutting down after '.ght(time()-$now,null,0).' :-)'.N,0);
+	}
+}
 
 if (is_null($oidata)) {
 	(!$opts['dryrun']) ? $instid=mysqli_insert_id($link) : $instid=0;