diff --git a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/controllers/OPNsense/Base/ApiMutableServiceControllerBase.php b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/controllers/OPNsense/Base/ApiMutableServiceControllerBase.php
index 4580b0972..d6048e518 100644
--- a/src/opnsense/mvc/app/controllers/OPNsense/Base/ApiMutableServiceControllerBase.php
+++ b/src/opnsense/mvc/app/controllers/OPNsense/Base/ApiMutableServiceControllerBase.php
@@ -194,7 +194,10 @@ abstract class ApiMutableServiceControllerBase extends ApiControllerBase
             }
 
             if (!empty(static::$internalServiceTemplate)) {
-                $backend->configdRun('template reload ' . escapeshellarg(static::$internalServiceTemplate));
+                $result = trim($backend->configdpRun('template reload', [static::$internalServiceTemplate]) ?? '');
+                if ($result !== 'OK') {
+                    throw new UserException(gettext('Template generation failed. See backend log for details.'));
+                }
             }
 
             if ($this->serviceEnabled()) {