diff --git a/networking/nc_bloaty.c b/networking/nc_bloaty.c
index 260d205..ca5dd1b 100644
--- a/networking/nc_bloaty.c
+++ b/networking/nc_bloaty.c
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@
 	if (o_verbose > 1)                /* normally we don't care */
 		fprintf(stderr, SENT_N_RECV_M, wrote_net, wrote_out);
 	fprintf(stderr, "punt!\n");
+	exit(1);
 }
 
 /* timeout and other signal handling cruft */