diff --git a/man3/atexit.3 b/man3/atexit.3
index 9d073e09c..2d6a50e3f 100644
--- a/man3/atexit.3
+++ b/man3/atexit.3
@@ -104,10 +104,11 @@ main(void)
 
     i = atexit(bye);
     if (i != 0) {
-       fprintf(stderr, "cannot set exit function\en");
-       return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        fprintf(stderr, "cannot set exit function\en");
+        exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
-    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+
+    exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
 }
 .fi
 .SH "SEE ALSO"