diff --git a/util/flashrom/flashrom.c b/util/flashrom/flashrom.c
index fddefea06d..04c86001d3 100644
--- a/util/flashrom/flashrom.c
+++ b/util/flashrom/flashrom.c
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			break;
 		case 'l':
 			tempstr=strdup(optarg);
-			read_romlayout(tempstr);
+			if (read_romlayout(tempstr))
+				exit(1);
 			break;
 		case 'i':
 			tempstr=strdup(optarg);
diff --git a/util/flashrom/layout.c b/util/flashrom/layout.c
index 5478782f42..8ba2e4153e 100644
--- a/util/flashrom/layout.c
+++ b/util/flashrom/layout.c
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ int read_romlayout(char *name)
 	romlayout=fopen (name, "r");
 	
 	if(!romlayout) {
-		printf("Error while opening rom layout (%s).\n", name);
+		fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Could not open rom layout (%s).\n", 
+				name);
 		return -1;
 	}