diff --git a/src/rest.c b/src/rest.c
index a6dafbc..fba807f 100644
--- a/src/rest.c
+++ b/src/rest.c
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ static int og_set_client_mode(struct og_dbi *dbi, const char *mac,
 		       "/opt/opengnsys/bin/setclientmode", filename, NULL);
 		syslog(LOG_ERR, "failed script execution (%s:%d)\n",
 		       __func__, __LINE__);
-		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+		return -1;
 	} else {
 		wait(&status);
 	}