diff --git a/lash.c b/lash.c
index 7bc43190d..a2969082f 100644
--- a/lash.c
+++ b/lash.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static int builtin_exit(struct job *cmd, struct jobSet *junk)
 	if (!cmd->progs[0].argv[1] == 1)
 		exit TRUE;
 
-	return(atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
+	exit (atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
 }
 
 /* built-in 'fg' and 'bg' handler */
diff --git a/sh.c b/sh.c
index 7bc43190d..a2969082f 100644
--- a/sh.c
+++ b/sh.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static int builtin_exit(struct job *cmd, struct jobSet *junk)
 	if (!cmd->progs[0].argv[1] == 1)
 		exit TRUE;
 
-	return(atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
+	exit (atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
 }
 
 /* built-in 'fg' and 'bg' handler */
diff --git a/shell/lash.c b/shell/lash.c
index 7bc43190d..a2969082f 100644
--- a/shell/lash.c
+++ b/shell/lash.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static int builtin_exit(struct job *cmd, struct jobSet *junk)
 	if (!cmd->progs[0].argv[1] == 1)
 		exit TRUE;
 
-	return(atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
+	exit (atoi(cmd->progs[0].argv[1]));
 }
 
 /* built-in 'fg' and 'bg' handler */