diff --git a/tools/fit_image.c b/tools/fit_image.c
index caed8d5..3d2fbad 100644
--- a/tools/fit_image.c
+++ b/tools/fit_image.c
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@
 	char bakfile[MKIMAGE_MAX_TMPFILE_LEN + 4] = {0};
 	char cmd[MKIMAGE_MAX_DTC_CMDLINE_LEN];
 	size_t size_inc;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = EXIT_FAILURE;
 
 	/* Flattened Image Tree (FIT) format  handling */
 	debug ("FIT format handling\n");
@@ -854,7 +854,7 @@
 err_system:
 	unlink(tmpfile);
 	unlink(bakfile);
-	return -1;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 /**