diff --git a/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/Artemis.java b/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/Artemis.java
index 3def675219..764f82248b 100644
--- a/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/Artemis.java
+++ b/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/Artemis.java
@@ -111,7 +111,10 @@ public class Artemis implements Runnable {
 
       verifyManagementDTO(fileBrokerETC);
 
-      execute(true, true, true, fileHome, fileInstance, fileBrokerETC, args);
+      Object result = execute(true, true, true, fileHome, fileInstance, fileBrokerETC, args);
+      if (!Run.getEmbedded() && result instanceof Exception) {
+         System.exit(1);
+      }
    }
 
 
diff --git a/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/commands/Run.java b/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/commands/Run.java
index 59c90563a3..a8f56fa7cd 100644
--- a/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/commands/Run.java
+++ b/artemis-cli/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/cli/commands/Run.java
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ public class Run extends LockAbstract {
       Run.embedded = true;
    }
 
+   public static boolean getEmbedded() {
+      return Run.embedded;
+   }
+
    private Broker server;
 
    @Override