diff --git a/mypy/main.py b/mypy/main.py
index 0e4f8a67443a..97abbc483616 100644
--- a/mypy/main.py
+++ b/mypy/main.py
@@ -1056,4 +1056,4 @@ def parse_section(prefix: str, template: Options,
 
 def fail(msg: str) -> None:
     sys.stderr.write('%s\n' % msg)
-    sys.exit(1)
+    sys.exit(2)