diff --git a/tmk_core/rules.mk b/tmk_core/rules.mk
index f13351ea1..2bf2a109f 100644
--- a/tmk_core/rules.mk
+++ b/tmk_core/rules.mk
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ TAB_LOG = printf "\n$$LOG\n\n" | $(AWK) '{ sub(/^/," | "); print }'
 TAB_LOG_PLAIN = printf "$$LOG\n"
 AWK_STATUS = $(AWK) '{ printf " %-10s\n", $$1; }'
 AWK_CMD = $(AWK) '{ printf "%-99s", $$0; }'
-PRINT_ERROR = ($(SILENT) ||printf " $(ERROR_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG) && false
+PRINT_ERROR = ($(SILENT) ||printf " $(ERROR_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG) && exit 1
 PRINT_WARNING = ($(SILENT) || printf " $(WARN_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG)
-PRINT_ERROR_PLAIN = ($(SILENT) ||printf " $(ERROR_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG_PLAIN) && false && break
+PRINT_ERROR_PLAIN = ($(SILENT) ||printf " $(ERROR_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG_PLAIN) && exit 1
 PRINT_WARNING_PLAIN = ($(SILENT) || printf " $(WARN_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)) && $(TAB_LOG_PLAIN)
 PRINT_OK = $(SILENT) || printf " $(OK_STRING)" | $(AWK_STATUS)
 BUILD_CMD = LOG=$$($(CMD) 2>&1) ; if [ $$? -gt 0 ]; then $(PRINT_ERROR); elif [ "$$LOG" != "" ] ; then $(PRINT_WARNING); else $(PRINT_OK); fi;