diff --git a/bin/monitor.js b/bin/monitor.js
index 38acef336bf52ac9c4a8abe189ff433c858efea6..4b96f93e9a65a3ef4555847666a6211d6614ca41 100755
--- a/bin/monitor.js
+++ b/bin/monitor.js
@@ -321,7 +321,8 @@ function    timer()
             netid = x;
         } )
 	.catch( err => {
-            console.log( "monitor.js waiting for geth to open socket." );
+            console.log( "monitor.js unable to connect to geth." );
+            process.exit(1);
         });
         return;
     }