diff --git a/lib/omnibus-ctl.rb b/lib/omnibus-ctl.rb
index 6f0fa9d..72fa5e9 100644
--- a/lib/omnibus-ctl.rb
+++ b/lib/omnibus-ctl.rb
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def scary_cleanse_warning(*args)
           sleep 60
         rescue Interrupt
           log ""
-          exit 0
+          Kernel.exit 1
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/omnibus-ctl/version.rb b/lib/omnibus-ctl/version.rb
index b90cf3a..d2db61e 100644
--- a/lib/omnibus-ctl/version.rb
+++ b/lib/omnibus-ctl/version.rb
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 module Omnibus
   class Ctl
-    VERSION = "0.5.0"
+    VERSION = "0.5.1"
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/omnibus-ctl_spec.rb b/spec/omnibus-ctl_spec.rb
index e746493..b606e6e 100644
--- a/spec/omnibus-ctl_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/omnibus-ctl_spec.rb
@@ -668,19 +668,17 @@ def ctl_output
 
   describe "cleanse" do
     before(:each) do
-      # this is potentially destructive if run on a live system,
-      # not to mention loaded with sleeps - skip it.
+      # No-op everything cleanup_procs_and_nuke wants to do, it's destructive
+      # (and slow/sleep-laden):
       allow(@ctl).to receive("cleanup_procs_and_nuke").and_return 0
     end
 
     it "should invoke the cleanse_post_hook" do
-      # No-op everything cleanup_procs_and_nuke wants to do, it's destructive:
       expect(@ctl).to receive("command_post_hook")
       @ctl.run(["cleanse", "yes"])
     end
 
     it "should invoke the scary_cleanse_warning" do
-      # No-op everything cleanup_procs_and_nuke wants to do, it's destructive:
       expect(@ctl).to receive("scary_cleanse_warning")
       @ctl.run(["cleanse", "yes"])
     end
@@ -734,6 +732,12 @@ def ctl_output
         @ctl.scary_cleanse_warning("cleanse")
         expect(ctl_output).not_to match(/--with-external/)
       end
+
+      it "will hard-stop when the operator uses Ctrl+C to exit" do
+        allow(@ctl).to receive(:sleep).and_raise(Interrupt)
+        expect(Kernel).to receive(:exit).with(1)
+        @ctl.scary_cleanse_warning("cleanse")
+      end
     end
 
     context "cleanse_post_hook" do
@@ -940,4 +944,7 @@ def ctl_output
       end
     end
   end
+
+
+
 end