diff --git a/classes/Category.php b/classes/Category.php
index 51c0ab67b..bff1b2455 100644
--- a/classes/Category.php
+++ b/classes/Category.php
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ class CategoryCore extends ObjectModel
 
 		$parent_category = new Category($this->id_parent);
 		if (!Validate::isLoadedObject($parent_category))
-			die('parent category does not exist');
+			throw new PrestaShopException('Parent category does not exist');
 		return $parent_category->level_depth + 1;
 	}