diff --git a/aws-env.go b/aws-env.go
index 8f46356..0a24f89 100644
--- a/aws-env.go
+++ b/aws-env.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/awserr"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws/session"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/ssm"
 	"log"
@@ -39,7 +40,12 @@ func ExportVariables(path string, nextToken string) {
 	output, err := client.GetParametersByPath(input)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Panic(err)
+		if aerr, ok := err.(awserr.Error); ok {
+			log.Println(aerr.Error())
+		} else {
+			log.Println(err.Error())
+		}
+		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
 	for _, element := range output.Parameters {