diff --git a/qemu-malloc.c b/qemu-malloc.c
index 1d00f26d00..e9e49cb8f2 100644
--- a/qemu-malloc.c
+++ b/qemu-malloc.c
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 static void *oom_check(void *ptr)
 {
     if (ptr == NULL)
-        exit(13);
+        abort();
     return ptr;
 }