diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index eb700913a1..96b9ae1978 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ static int do_pick_commit(struct commit *commit, struct replay_opts *opts)
 		 * to work on.
 		 */
 		if (write_cache_as_tree(head, 0, NULL))
-			die (_("Your index file is unmerged."));
+			return error(_("Your index file is unmerged."));
 	} else {
 		unborn = get_sha1("HEAD", head);
 		if (unborn)