diff --git a/prepare-vms/scripts/cli.sh b/prepare-vms/scripts/cli.sh
index e8135dda..8283c73d 100755
--- a/prepare-vms/scripts/cli.sh
+++ b/prepare-vms/scripts/cli.sh
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 die () {
-    if [ -z "$1" ]; then
-        exit 1
+    if [ -n "$1" ]; then
+        >&2 echo -n $(tput setaf 1)
+        >&2 echo -e "$1"
+        >&2 echo -n $(tput sgr0)
     fi
-    echo -n $(tput setaf 1)
-    echo -e "$1"
-    echo -n $(tput sgr0)
     exit 1
 }