diff --git a/package/watchdogd/S01watchdogd b/package/watchdogd/S01watchdogd
index 8f811ac0fc..316787c2ff 100644
--- a/package/watchdogd/S01watchdogd
+++ b/package/watchdogd/S01watchdogd
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ stop() {
 		echo "OK"
 	else
 		echo "FAIL"
+		return "$status"
 	fi
 	# watchdogd deletes its PID file on exit, wait for it to be gone
 	while [ -f "$PIDFILE" ]; do