diff --git a/libbb/make_directory.c b/libbb/make_directory.c
index 2a2788b68..3f81d9ac2 100644
--- a/libbb/make_directory.c
+++ b/libbb/make_directory.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int make_directory (char *path, long mode, int flags)
 		if ((flags == FILEUTILS_RECUR) && (errno == EEXIST)) {
 			ret = 0;
 		} else {
-			perror_msg("Cannot create directory '%s'", path);
+			perror_msg_and_die("Cannot create directory '%s'", path);
 		}
 	}
 	return(ret);