diff --git a/src/client/qwaylanddisplay.cpp b/src/client/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
index 9e535935..47eb912c 100644
--- a/src/client/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/client/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
@@ -208,7 +208,8 @@ void QWaylandDisplay::checkError() const
     int ecode = wl_display_get_error(mDisplay);
     if ((ecode == EPIPE || ecode == ECONNRESET)) {
         // special case this to provide a nicer error
-        qFatal("The Wayland connection broke. Did the Wayland compositor die?");
+        qWarning("The Wayland connection broke. Did the Wayland compositor die?");
+        exit(1);
     } else {
         qFatal("The Wayland connection experienced a fatal error: %s", strerror(ecode));
     }