diff --git a/bin/cp/utils.c b/bin/cp/utils.c
index d729bd5b340f..aa424f846286 100644
--- a/bin/cp/utils.c
+++ b/bin/cp/utils.c
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ copy_file(const FTSENT *entp, int dne)
 			if (vflag)
 				printf("%s not overwritten\n", to.p_path);
 			(void)close(from_fd);
-			return (0);
+			return (1);
 		} else if (iflag) {
 			(void)fprintf(stderr, "overwrite %s? %s", 
 					to.p_path, YESNO);