diff --git a/grub-core/script/yylex.l b/grub-core/script/yylex.l
index 7b44c37b7..b7203c823 100644
--- a/grub-core/script/yylex.l
+++ b/grub-core/script/yylex.l
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@
 
 /* 
  * As we don't have access to yyscanner, we cannot do much except to
- * print the fatal error.
+ * print the fatal error and exit.
  */
 #define YY_FATAL_ERROR(msg)                     \
   do {                                          \
-    grub_printf (_("fatal error: %s\n"), _(msg));     \
+    grub_fatal (_("fatal error: %s\n"), _(msg));\
   } while (0)
 
 #define COPY(str, hint)                         \