diff --git a/util/shutdown.c b/util/shutdown.c
index 0a6d8bf..2ef847a 100644
--- a/util/shutdown.c
+++ b/util/shutdown.c
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ shutdown_now (void)
 {
 	nih_local char **extra_env = NULL;
 	NihDBusError *   dbus_err;
+	int exit_val = 0;
 
 	if (init_halt) {
 		char *e;
@@ -486,12 +487,14 @@ shutdown_now (void)
 		 * yet rebooted ... so try /dev/initctl
 		 */
 		sysvinit_shutdown ();
+		nih_fatal ("Unable to shutdown system");
+		exit_val = 1;
 	}
 
 	unlink (ETC_NOLOGIN);
 	nih_main_unlink_pidfile ();
 
-	exit (0);
+	exit (exit_val);
 }
 
 /**