diff --git a/cmd/headscale/cli/utils.go b/cmd/headscale/cli/utils.go
index 327c8c14..c07e3a25 100644
--- a/cmd/headscale/cli/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/headscale/cli/utils.go
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ func getHeadscaleCLIClient() (context.Context, v1.HeadscaleServiceClient, *grpc.
 			Err(err).
 			Caller().
 			Msgf("Failed to load configuration")
+		os.Exit(-1) // we get here if logging is suppressed (i.e., json output)
 	}
 
 	log.Debug().
@@ -116,6 +117,7 @@ func getHeadscaleCLIClient() (context.Context, v1.HeadscaleServiceClient, *grpc.
 	conn, err := grpc.DialContext(ctx, address, grpcOptions...)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Fatal().Caller().Err(err).Msgf("Could not connect: %v", err)
+		os.Exit(-1) // we get here if logging is suppressed (i.e., json output)
 	}
 
 	client := v1.NewHeadscaleServiceClient(conn)