diff --git a/src/lxc/tools/lxc_top.c b/src/lxc/tools/lxc_top.c
index 593f9f125..7f3ae4fb7 100644
--- a/src/lxc/tools/lxc_top.c
+++ b/src/lxc/tools/lxc_top.c
@@ -555,5 +555,5 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 err1:
 	lxc_mainloop_close(&descr);
 out:
-	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+	exit(ret);
 }