diff --git a/cmdmon.c b/cmdmon.c
index dd78afa..75bc464 100644
--- a/cmdmon.c
+++ b/cmdmon.c
@@ -248,8 +248,10 @@ prepare_socket(int family)
   }
 
   if (bind(sock_fd, &my_addr.u, my_addr_len) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_CmdMon, "Could not bind %s command socket : %s",
+    LOG(LOGS_ERR, LOGF_CmdMon, "Could not bind %s command socket : %s",
         family == AF_INET ? "IPv4" : "IPv6", strerror(errno));
+    close(sock_fd);
+    return -1;
   }
 
   /* Register handler for read events on the socket */
diff --git a/ntp_io.c b/ntp_io.c
index 9924056..0e7aa73 100644
--- a/ntp_io.c
+++ b/ntp_io.c
@@ -210,8 +210,10 @@ prepare_socket(int family)
 #endif
 
   if (bind(sock_fd, &my_addr.u, my_addr_len) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_NtpIO, "Could not bind %s NTP socket : %s",
+    LOG(LOGS_ERR, LOGF_NtpIO, "Could not bind %s NTP socket : %s",
         family == AF_INET ? "IPv4" : "IPv6", strerror(errno));
+    close(sock_fd);
+    return -1;
   }
 
   /* Register handler for read events on the socket */