diff --git a/init.d.misc/ntpd b/init.d.misc/ntpd
index 000bf366..28ca5b1a 100644
--- a/init.d.misc/ntpd
+++ b/init.d.misc/ntpd
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ depend() {
 start_pre() {
 	if [ ! -r "${ntpd_config}" ]; then
 		eerror "${ntpd_config} is not readable"
-		exit 1
+		return 1
 	fi
 
 	if [ -n "${ntpd_chroot}" ]; then