diff --git a/base/test_base.c b/base/test_base.c
index 5355907c7..320512bf8 100644
--- a/base/test_base.c
+++ b/base/test_base.c
@@ -127,9 +127,10 @@ test_string(void)
     s1 = heim_string_create(string);
     s2 = heim_string_create(string);
 
-    if (heim_cmp(s1, s2) != 0)
-	errx(1, "the same string is not the same");
-
+    if (heim_cmp(s1, s2) != 0) {
+	printf("the same string is not the same\n");
+	exit(1);
+    }
 
     heim_release(s1);
     heim_release(s2);