diff --git a/cmd/substreams/main.go b/cmd/substreams/main.go
index 370ad6b70..1070fe4de 100644
--- a/cmd/substreams/main.go
+++ b/cmd/substreams/main.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 )
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ func main() {
 	setup()
 
 	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
-
+		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/docs/release-notes/change-log.md b/docs/release-notes/change-log.md
index f853c367b..63bc5366a 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes/change-log.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes/change-log.md
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ If you upgrade in the wrong order or if somehow `tier2` processes start using th
 
 ### Changed
 
+* [`binary`]: Commands `substreams <...>` that fails now correctly return an exit code 1.
+
 * [`library`]: The `manifest.NewReader` signature changed and will now return a `*Reader, error` (previously `*Reader`).
 
 ### Added