diff --git a/run_electrum b/run_electrum
index 54236da85..bb6ff8d43 100755
--- a/run_electrum
+++ b/run_electrum
@@ -433,6 +433,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         print_msg(result)
     elif type(result) is dict and result.get('error'):
         print_stderr(result.get('error'))
+        sys_exit(1)
     elif result is not None:
         print_msg(json_encode(result))
     sys_exit(0)