diff --git a/git-difftool.perl b/git-difftool.perl
index 948ff7f6fd..bd828c2a6f 100755
--- a/git-difftool.perl
+++ b/git-difftool.perl
@@ -82,4 +82,5 @@ sub generate_command
 }
 
 setup_environment();
-exec(generate_command());
+my $rc = system(generate_command());
+exit($rc | ($rc >> 8));