diff --git a/binutils/Makefile b/binutils/Makefile
index 61748caab..7fb71813d 100644
--- a/binutils/Makefile
+++ b/binutils/Makefile
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ $(LIBAPPARMOR_A):
 		echo "error: $@ is missing. Pick one of these possible solutions:" 1>&2; \
 		echo "  1) Build against the in-tree libapparmor by building it first and then trying again. See the top-level README for help." 1>&2; \
 		echo "  2) Build against the system libapparmor by adding USE_SYSTEM=1 to your make command." 1>&2;\
-		return 1; \
+		exit 1; \
 	fi
 endif
 
diff --git a/parser/Makefile b/parser/Makefile
index ca2a44e4c..4d370c367 100644
--- a/parser/Makefile
+++ b/parser/Makefile
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ $(LIBAPPARMOR_A):
 		echo "error: $@ is missing. Pick one of these possible solutions:" 1>&2; \
 		echo "  1) Build against the in-tree libapparmor by building it first and then trying again. See the top-level README for help." 1>&2; \
 		echo "  2) Build against the system libapparmor by adding USE_SYSTEM=1 to your make command." 1>&2;\
-		return 1; \
+		exit 1; \
 	fi
 endif
 
diff --git a/utils/test/Makefile b/utils/test/Makefile
index db2312efb..d8250c4d5 100644
--- a/utils/test/Makefile
+++ b/utils/test/Makefile
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ ifndef USE_SYSTEM
 		echo "error: $(LD_LIBRARY_PATH)libapparmor.so is missing. Pick one of these possible solutions:" 1>&2; \
 		echo "  1) Build against the in-tree libapparmor by building it first and then trying again. See the top-level README for help." 1>&2; \
 		echo "  2) Build against the system libapparmor by adding USE_SYSTEM=1 to your make command." 1>&2; \
-		return 1; \
+		exit 1; \
 	fi
 endif