diff --git a/usr.bin/getopt/getopt.c b/usr.bin/getopt/getopt.c
index 830f63a3a34e..7ce9c4f5ad02 100644
--- a/usr.bin/getopt/getopt.c
+++ b/usr.bin/getopt/getopt.c
@@ -29,5 +29,5 @@ char *argv[];
 	for (; optind < argc; optind++)
 		printf(" %s", argv[optind]);
 	printf("\n");
-	exit(status);
+	return status;
 }