diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 1614efb8db..eb9c473328 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -847,8 +847,8 @@ static int create_seq_dir(void)
 		return -1;
 	}
 	else if (mkdir(git_path_seq_dir(), 0777) < 0)
-		die_errno(_("Could not create sequencer directory %s"),
-			  git_path_seq_dir());
+		return error_errno(_("Could not create sequencer directory %s"),
+				   git_path_seq_dir());
 	return 0;
 }