diff --git a/bin/ps/ps.c b/bin/ps/ps.c
index 004b0a7bd2e8..a3411e1fbecc 100644
--- a/bin/ps/ps.c
+++ b/bin/ps/ps.c
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ main(argc, argv)
 	 */
 	printheader();
 	if (nentries == 0)
-		exit(0);
+		exit(1);
 	/*
 	 * sort proc list
 	 */