diff --git a/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-loader/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/loader/MainMethodRunner.java b/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-loader/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/loader/MainMethodRunner.java
index 8633ed6d6a..91cfbeee8e 100644
--- a/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-loader/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/loader/MainMethodRunner.java
+++ b/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-loader/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/loader/MainMethodRunner.java
@@ -59,10 +59,7 @@ public class MainMethodRunner implements Runnable {
 			if (handler != null) {
 				handler.uncaughtException(Thread.currentThread(), ex);
 			}
-			else {
-				ex.printStackTrace();
-			}
-			System.exit(1);
+			throw new RuntimeException(ex);
 		}
 	}