diff --git a/src/io.c b/src/io.c
index 49d0196..c4457a8 100644
--- a/src/io.c
+++ b/src/io.c
@@ -76,8 +76,10 @@ void fs_open(char *path,int rw)
 {
     struct stat stbuf;
 
-    if ((fd = open(path,rw ? O_RDWR : O_RDONLY)) < 0)
-	pdie("open %s",path);
+    if ((fd = open(path,rw ? O_RDWR : O_RDONLY)) < 0) {
+       perror("open");
+       exit(6);
+    }
     changes = last = NULL;
     did_change = 0;