diff --git a/cmd/bootnode/main.go b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
index a5e82d1458..e1734d89ac 100644
--- a/cmd/bootnode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bootnode/main.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ func main() {
 		if err = crypto.SaveECDSA(*genKey, nodeKey); err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("%v", err)
 		}
+		return
 	case *nodeKeyFile == "" && *nodeKeyHex == "":
 		utils.Fatalf("Use -nodekey or -nodekeyhex to specify a private key")
 	case *nodeKeyFile != "" && *nodeKeyHex != "":