diff --git a/src/bootstrap/flags.rs b/src/bootstrap/flags.rs
index a84d43d3deede..7546d7fd4f07a 100644
--- a/src/bootstrap/flags.rs
+++ b/src/bootstrap/flags.rs
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ To learn more about a subcommand, run `./x.py <subcommand> -h`");
             None => {
                 // No subcommand -- show the general usage and subcommand help
                 println!("{}\n", subcommand_help);
-                process::exit(0);
+                process::exit(1);
             }
         };