--- a/dmd/src/dmd/link.d
+++ b/dmd/src/dmd/link.d
@@ -685,7 +685,7 @@ public int runLINK()
             close(fds[0]);
             execvp(argv[0], cast(char**)argv.tdata());
             perror(argv[0]); // failed to execute
-            return -1;
+            _exit(-1);
         }
         else if (childpid == -1)
         {