diff --git a/docs/changelog.md b/docs/changelog.md
index 29d5f2802..7c38cd04d 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/changelog.md
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.11.3
   [#2918](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/pull/2918)
   [@dkrnl](https://github.com/dkrnl)
 
+* Throw error rather than exit when invalid binaries detected.
+  [#2931](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/2931)
+
 ### v0.29.1 - 7th September 2021
 
 * Add `lightness` option to `modulate` operation.
diff --git a/lib/sharp.js b/lib/sharp.js
index 7d0b72ed9..3fd037855 100644
--- a/lib/sharp.js
+++ b/lib/sharp.js
@@ -24,9 +24,8 @@ try {
     const loadedModule = Object.keys(require.cache).find((i) => /[\\/]build[\\/]Release[\\/]sharp(.*)\.node$/.test(i));
     if (loadedModule) {
       const [, loadedPackage] = loadedModule.match(/node_modules[\\/]([^\\/]+)[\\/]/);
-      help.push(`- Ensure version aligns with: "npm ls sharp". Now sharp already loaded in: "${loadedPackage}"`);
+      help.push(`- Ensure the version of sharp aligns with the ${loadedPackage} package: "npm ls sharp"`);
     }
   }
-  console.error(help.join('\n'));
-  process.exit(1);
+  throw new Error(help.join('\n'));
 }