diff --git a/cmd/zitadelctl/cmds/root.go b/cmd/zitadelctl/cmds/root.go
index 2138bd0e9d..ff5396e996 100644
--- a/cmd/zitadelctl/cmds/root.go
+++ b/cmd/zitadelctl/cmds/root.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package cmds
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"os"
 
 	"github.com/caos/orbos/mntr"
 	"github.com/caos/orbos/pkg/git"
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ func RootCommand(version string) (*cobra.Command, GetRootValues) {
 			ErrFunc: func(err error) error {
 				if err != nil {
 					monitor.Error(err)
+					os.Exit(1)
 				}
 				return nil
 			},