diff --git a/stcgal.py b/stcgal.py
index 89c767d..8777678 100755
--- a/stcgal.py
+++ b/stcgal.py
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@
 # SOFTWARE.
 #
 
+import sys
 import stcgal.frontend
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    stcgal.frontend.cli()
+    sys.exit(stcgal.frontend.cli())
diff --git a/stcgal/frontend.py b/stcgal/frontend.py
index c41ff08..3979102 100644
--- a/stcgal/frontend.py
+++ b/stcgal/frontend.py
@@ -152,4 +152,4 @@ def cli():
     
     # run programmer
     gal = StcGal(opts)
-    sys.exit(gal.run())
+    return gal.run()