diff --git a/bin/compose-core b/bin/compose-core
index 72b221a..89edf78 100755
--- a/bin/compose-core
+++ b/bin/compose-core
@@ -4303,7 +4303,7 @@ if [ -z "$is_docker_compose_action" -a "$action" ]; then
 
     ## Required by has_service_action
     array_read-0 services_args < <(printf "%s" "$COMPOSE_YML_CONTENT" | shyaml keys-0 2>/dev/null)
-    get_all_relations "${services_args[@]}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || return  1
+    get_all_relations "${services_args[@]}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || exit  1
 
     remainder_args=("${remainder_args[@]:1}")
     if has_service_action "$action_service" "$action" >/dev/null; then