diff --git a/src/engine/Jambase b/src/engine/Jambase
index 19250bdb5..48590d6b0 100644
--- a/src/engine/Jambase
+++ b/src/engine/Jambase
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ rule boost-build ( dir ? )
 {
     if $(.bootstrap-file)
     {
-        EXIT "Error: Illegal attempt to re-bootstrap the build system by invoking" ;
+        ECHO "Error: Illegal attempt to re-bootstrap the build system by invoking" ;
         ECHO ;
         ECHO "   'boost-build" $(dir) ";'" ;
         ECHO ;
diff --git a/src/engine/jambase.c b/src/engine/jambase.c
index c12be911b..dbcf263e3 100644
--- a/src/engine/jambase.c
+++ b/src/engine/jambase.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ char *jambase[] = {
 "{\n",
 "if $(.bootstrap-file)\n",
 "{\n",
-"EXIT \"Error: Illegal attempt to re-bootstrap the build system by invoking\" ;\n",
+"ECHO \"Error: Illegal attempt to re-bootstrap the build system by invoking\" ;\n",
 "ECHO ;\n",
 "ECHO \"   'boost-build\" $(dir) \";'\" ;\n",
 "ECHO ;\n",