diff --git a/controls/permission/permission.go b/controls/permission/permission.go
index 07d7e72a9..6186e288c 100644
--- a/controls/permission/permission.go
+++ b/controls/permission/permission.go
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ func (p *PermissionCtrl) populateInitPermission() error {
 	if tx && !p.permissionedMode {
 		// Network is initialized with permissions and node is joining in a non-permissioned
 		// option. stop the node from coming up
-		utils.Fatalf("Joining a permissioned network in non-permissioned mode. Bring up get with --permissioned.")
+		utils.Fatalf("Joining a permissioned network in non-permissioned mode. Bring up geth with --permissioned.")
 	}
 
 	if !p.permissionedMode {
diff --git a/core/quorum/api.go b/core/quorum/api.go
index 629d0802c..e5df6afe8 100644
--- a/core/quorum/api.go
+++ b/core/quorum/api.go
@@ -219,6 +219,11 @@ func (s *PermissionAPI) PermissionAccountList() []accountInfo {
 }
 
 func (s *PermissionAPI) VoterList() []string {
+	if !s.enabled {
+		voterArr := make([]string, 1)
+		voterArr[0] = "Permissions control not enabled for the network"
+		return voterArr
+	}
 	ps := s.newPermSessionWithNodeKeySigner()
 	// get the total number of accounts with permissions
 	voterCnt, err := ps.GetNumberOfVoters()