diff --git a/spike_main/spike.cc b/spike_main/spike.cc
index 13bead5d..b7a1bdfe 100644
--- a/spike_main/spike.cc
+++ b/spike_main/spike.cc
@@ -421,6 +421,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
      catch (std::exception& e)
      {
        std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl;
+       exit(-1);
      }
   }
 #endif