diff --git a/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_batch.c b/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_batch.c
index 989aef01cd6..c3c1267b0ad 100644
--- a/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_batch.c
+++ b/src/mesa/drivers/dri/i965/brw_batch.c
@@ -862,7 +862,7 @@ submit_batch(struct brw_context *brw, int in_fence_fd, int *out_fence_fd)
    if (ret != 0) {
       fprintf(stderr, "i965: Failed to submit batchbuffer: %s\n",
               strerror(-ret));
-      exit(1);
+      abort();
    }
 
    return ret;