diff --git a/vlib/v/util/util.v b/vlib/v/util/util.v
index c1af1b4e31..354a6f75e1 100644
--- a/vlib/v/util/util.v
+++ b/vlib/v/util/util.v
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ pub fn launch_tool(is_verbose bool, tool_name string, args []string) {
 	if is_verbose {
 		println('launch_tool running tool command: $tool_command ...')
 	}
-	os.system(tool_command)
+	exit(os.system(tool_command))
 }
 
 // NB: should_recompile_tool/2 compares unix timestamps that have 1 second resolution