diff --git a/daphne/cli.py b/daphne/cli.py
index e6e79b2..a5623ad 100755
--- a/daphne/cli.py
+++ b/daphne/cli.py
@@ -289,3 +289,5 @@ class CommandLineInterface:
             server_name=args.server_name,
         )
         self.server.run()
+        if self.server.abort_start:
+            exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 8368488..59f44e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ class TestCLIInterface(TestCase):
             Mock server object for testing.
             """
 
+            abort_start = False
+
             def __init__(self, **kwargs):
                 self.init_kwargs = kwargs