diff --git a/backend/png.c b/backend/png.c
index fae4b6ad..f93f17c1 100644
--- a/backend/png.c
+++ b/backend/png.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static void writepng_error_handler(png_structp png_ptr, png_const_charp msg)
         fprintf(stderr,
           "writepng severe error:  jmpbuf not recoverable; terminating.\n");
         fflush(stderr);
-        exit(99);
+        return;
     }
     longjmp(graphic->jmpbuf, 1);
 }