diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpf_exp.y b/tools/bpf/bpf_exp.y
index 8d48e896be50..8d03e5245da5 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpf_exp.y
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpf_exp.y
@@ -549,9 +549,11 @@ static uint8_t bpf_encode_jt_jf_offset(int off, int i)
 {
 	int delta = off - i - 1;
 
-	if (delta < 0 || delta > 255)
-		fprintf(stderr, "warning: insn #%d jumps to insn #%d, "
+	if (delta < 0 || delta > 255) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "error: insn #%d jumps to insn #%d, "
 				"which is out of range\n", i, off);
+		exit(1);
+	}
 	return (uint8_t) delta;
 }