diff --git a/tests/runtests.pl b/tests/runtests.pl
index 912b05d4a..ec4b888ac 100755
--- a/tests/runtests.pl
+++ b/tests/runtests.pl
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ sub torture {
             logmsg " Failed on alloc number $limit in test.\n",
             " invoke with -t$limit to repeat this single case.\n";
             stopservers($verbose);
-            exit 1;
+            return 1;
         }
     }