diff --git a/src/server/telnet_server.c b/src/server/telnet_server.c
index e5eb4bb23..e33188b5e 100644
--- a/src/server/telnet_server.c
+++ b/src/server/telnet_server.c
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ static int telnet_input(struct connection *connection)
 				break;
 			default:
 				LOG_ERROR("unknown telnet state");
-				exit(-1);
+				return ERROR_FAIL;
 		}
 
 		bytes_read--;