diff --git a/mkwheelhouse.py b/mkwheelhouse.py
index e77f92c..53c3e73 100755
--- a/mkwheelhouse.py
+++ b/mkwheelhouse.py
@@ -160,8 +160,7 @@ def parse_args():
     try:
         run(args, pip_wheel_args)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        print('mkwheelhouse: detected error in subprocess, aborting!',
-              file=sys.stderr)
+        sys.exit('mkwheelhouse: detected error in subprocess, aborting!')
 
 
 def run(args, pip_wheel_args):