diff --git a/chardev/char.c b/chardev/char.c
index c34b44a..5d283b9 100644
--- a/chardev/char.c
+++ b/chardev/char.c
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@
 
         error_report("Available chardev backend types: %s", str->str);
         g_string_free(str, true);
-        exit(0);
+        return NULL;
     }
 
     if (id == NULL) {