diff --git a/test_problems/surfSolverTest/surfaceSolver.cpp b/test_problems/surfSolverTest/surfaceSolver.cpp
index 3c7865f6b..fc331a50e 100644
--- a/test_problems/surfSolverTest/surfaceSolver.cpp
+++ b/test_problems/surfSolverTest/surfaceSolver.cpp
@@ -437,6 +437,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
         appdelete();
     } catch (CanteraError& err) {
         std::cout << err.what() << std::endl;
+        return 1;
     }
 
     return 0;