diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 7a54bfc61..2075ccf78 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -439,8 +439,7 @@ case "$#" in
 	then
 		head_name="detached HEAD"
 	else
-		echo >&2 "fatal: no such branch: $1"
-		usage
+		die "fatal: no such branch: $1"
 	fi
 	;;
 *)