diff --git a/cpu/native/native_cpu.c b/cpu/native/native_cpu.c
index 96956b74d3..8c4d81f0f2 100644
--- a/cpu/native/native_cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/native/native_cpu.c
@@ -184,8 +184,9 @@ void cpu_switch_context_exit(void)
 {
 #ifdef NATIVE_AUTO_EXIT
     if (sched_num_threads <= 1) {
+        extern unsigned _native_retval;
         DEBUG("cpu_switch_context_exit: last task has ended. exiting.\n");
-        real_exit(EXIT_SUCCESS);
+        real_exit(_native_retval);
     }
 #endif