diff --git a/safekeeper/src/bin/safekeeper.rs b/safekeeper/src/bin/safekeeper.rs
index 61d2f558f2..a5ffc013e2 100644
--- a/safekeeper/src/bin/safekeeper.rs
+++ b/safekeeper/src/bin/safekeeper.rs
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ fn start_safekeeper(mut conf: SafeKeeperConf, given_id: Option<ZNodeId>, init: b
         // Otherwise, the coverage data will be damaged.
         match daemonize.exit_action(|| exit_now(0)).start() {
             Ok(_) => info!("Success, daemonized"),
-            Err(e) => error!("Error, {}", e),
+            Err(err) => bail!("Error: {err}. could not daemonize. bailing."),
         }
     }