diff --git a/sky/cli.py b/sky/cli.py
index 5d4f07d535f..fdcfc146f07 100644
--- a/sky/cli.py
+++ b/sky/cli.py
@@ -2579,6 +2579,7 @@ def start(
         except (exceptions.NotSupportedError,
                 exceptions.ClusterOwnerIdentityMismatchError) as e:
             click.echo(str(e))
+            sys.exit(1)
         else:
             click.secho(f'Cluster {name} started.', fg='green')
 
@@ -2918,6 +2919,7 @@ def _down_or_stop(name: str):
             except (exceptions.NotSupportedError,
                     exceptions.ClusterNotUpError) as e:
                 message = str(e)
+                sys.exit(1)
             else:  # no exception raised
                 success_progress = True
                 message = (f'{colorama.Fore.GREEN}{operation} '
@@ -2948,6 +2950,7 @@ def _down_or_stop(name: str):
             except (exceptions.NotSupportedError,
                     exceptions.ClusterOwnerIdentityMismatchError) as e:
                 message = str(e)
+                sys.exit(1)
             else:  # no exception raised
                 message = (
                     f'{colorama.Fore.GREEN}{operation} cluster {name}...done.'