diff --git a/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/index.js b/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/index.js
index 3af84956ae7..02633401076 100644
--- a/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/index.js
+++ b/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/index.js
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import TransformAngleBracketComponents from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/tra
 import TransformInputOnToOnEvent from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/transform-input-on-to-onEvent';
 import TransformTopLevelComponents from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/transform-top-level-components';
 import DeprecateRenderModel from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/deprecate-render-model';
-import DeprecateRenderBlock from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/deprecate-render-block';
+import PreventRenderBlock from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/prevent-render-block';
 import TransformInlineLinkTo from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/transform-inline-link-to';
 import AssertNoViewAndControllerPaths from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/assert-no-view-and-controller-paths';
 import AssertNoViewHelper from 'ember-template-compiler/plugins/assert-no-view-helper';
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ registerPlugin('ast', TransformAngleBracketComponents);
 registerPlugin('ast', TransformInputOnToOnEvent);
 registerPlugin('ast', TransformTopLevelComponents);
 registerPlugin('ast', DeprecateRenderModel);
-registerPlugin('ast', DeprecateRenderBlock);
+registerPlugin('ast', PreventRenderBlock);
 registerPlugin('ast', AssertNoEachIn);
 registerPlugin('ast', TransformInlineLinkTo);
 
diff --git a/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/deprecate-render-block.js b/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/deprecate-render-block.js
deleted file mode 100644
index c4949ad02bb..00000000000
--- a/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/deprecate-render-block.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-import { deprecate } from 'ember-metal/debug';
-import calculateLocationDisplay from
-  'ember-template-compiler/system/calculate-location-display';
-
-export default function DeprecateRenderBlock(options) {
-  this.syntax = null;
-  this.options = options;
-}
-
-DeprecateRenderBlock.prototype.transform =
-  function DeprecateRenderBlock_transform(ast) {
-  let moduleName = this.options.moduleName;
-  let walker = new this.syntax.Walker();
-
-  walker.visit(ast, function(node) {
-    if (!validate(node)) { return; }
-
-    deprecate(
-      deprecationMessage(moduleName, node),
-      false,
-      {
-        id: 'ember-template-compiler.deprecate-render-block',
-        until: '2.4.0',
-        url: 'http://emberjs.com/deprecations/v2.x#toc_render-helper-with-block'
-      }
-    );
-  });
-
-  return ast;
-};
-
-function validate(node) {
-  return (node.type === 'BlockStatement') &&
-    (node.path.original === 'render');
-}
-
-function deprecationMessage(moduleName, node) {
-  let sourceInformation = calculateLocationDisplay(moduleName, node.loc);
-
-  return `Usage of \`render\` in block form is deprecated ${sourceInformation}.`;
-}
diff --git a/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/prevent-render-block.js b/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/prevent-render-block.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9dbad3e0405
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/ember-template-compiler/lib/plugins/prevent-render-block.js
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import Error from 'ember-metal/error';
+import calculateLocationDisplay from
+  'ember-template-compiler/system/calculate-location-display';
+
+export default function PreventRenderBlock(options) {
+  this.syntax = null;
+  this.options = options;
+}
+
+PreventRenderBlock.prototype.transform =
+  function PreventRenderBlock_transform(ast) {
+  let moduleName = this.options.moduleName;
+  let walker = new this.syntax.Walker();
+
+  walker.visit(ast, function(node) {
+    if (!validate(node)) { return; }
+
+    throw new Error(assertionMessage(moduleName, node));
+  });
+
+  return ast;
+};
+
+function validate(node) {
+  return (node.type === 'BlockStatement') &&
+    (node.path.original === 'render');
+}
+
+function assertionMessage(moduleName, node) {
+  let sourceInformation = calculateLocationDisplay(moduleName, node.loc);
+
+  return `Usage of \`render\` in block form is unsupported ${sourceInformation}.`;
+}
diff --git a/packages/ember-template-compiler/tests/plugins/deprecate-render-block-test.js b/packages/ember-template-compiler/tests/plugins/deprecate-render-block-test.js
index 90aa57b7368..fa4d94bfca9 100644
--- a/packages/ember-template-compiler/tests/plugins/deprecate-render-block-test.js
+++ b/packages/ember-template-compiler/tests/plugins/deprecate-render-block-test.js
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ if (!isEnabled('ember-glimmer')) {
 
   QUnit.module('ember-template-compiler: deprecate-render-block');
 
-  QUnit.test('Using `render` with a block issues a deprecation', function() {
+  QUnit.test('Using `render` with a block throws an error', function() {
     expect(1);
 
-    let expectedMessage = `Usage of \`render\` in block form is deprecated ('baz/foo-bar' @ L1:C0) .`;
+    let expectedMessage = `Usage of \`render\` in block form is unsupported ('baz/foo-bar' @ L1:C0) .`;
 
-    expectDeprecation(function() {
+    throws(function() {
       compile('{{#render "foo-bar"}}{{/render}}', {
         moduleName: 'baz/foo-bar'
       });