diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index bde5f047b0..b087e121b4 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ static int fast_forward_to(const unsigned char *to, const unsigned char *from,
 
 	read_cache();
 	if (checkout_fast_forward(from, to, 1))
-		exit(1); /* the callee should have complained already */
+		exit(128); /* the callee should have complained already */
 	ref_lock = lock_any_ref_for_update("HEAD", unborn ? null_sha1 : from,
 					   0, NULL);
 	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s: fast-forward", action_name(opts));