diff --git a/awxkit/awxkit/cli/client.py b/awxkit/awxkit/cli/client.py
index 6ccef0f12f..6a7c4c3f51 100755
--- a/awxkit/awxkit/cli/client.py
+++ b/awxkit/awxkit/cli/client.py
@@ -200,6 +200,8 @@ class CLI(object):
             )
             if formatted:
                 print(utils.to_str(formatted), file=self.stdout)
+            if hasattr(response, 'rc'):
+                raise SystemExit(response.rc)
         else:
             if six.PY3:
                 self.parser.print_help()
diff --git a/awxkit/awxkit/cli/custom.py b/awxkit/awxkit/cli/custom.py
index 81a189169a..0f876579bc 100644
--- a/awxkit/awxkit/cli/custom.py
+++ b/awxkit/awxkit/cli/custom.py
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ class Launchable(object):
             )
             if status:
                 response.json['status'] = status
+                if status in ('failed', 'error'):
+                    setattr(response, 'rc', 1)
         return response
 
     def perform(self, **kwargs):