diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index db7a178..119c7e4 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -5745,6 +5745,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
             uint8_t status = 1;
             if (write(fds[1], &status, 1) != 1) {
                 perror("daemonize. Writing to pipe\n");
+                exit(1);
             }
         } else
 #endif