diff --git a/lib/core-generators/new/templates/app.js.template b/lib/core-generators/new/templates/app.js.template
index f2c5f4eb..8fabcd5e 100644
--- a/lib/core-generators/new/templates/app.js.template
+++ b/lib/core-generators/new/templates/app.js.template
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ try {
   console.error('also run this app with `sails lift`.  Running with `sails lift` will');
   console.error('not run this file (`app.js`), but it will do exactly the same thing.');
   console.error('(It even uses your app directory\'s local Sails install, if possible.)');
-  return;
+  process.exit(1);
 }//-•