diff --git a/arena/arena_mqtt.py b/arena/arena_mqtt.py
index 5300fd24..cbb28fa2 100644
--- a/arena/arena_mqtt.py
+++ b/arena/arena_mqtt.py
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ def on_connect(self, client, userdata, flags, rc):
 
         else:
             print(f"Connection error! Result code={rc}")
+            os._exit(1)
 
     def on_message(self, client, userdata, msg):
         # ignore own messages
@@ -281,6 +282,8 @@ def on_disconnect(self, client, userdata, rc):
         else:
             print(f"Disconnected! Result code={rc}.")
 
+        os._exit(rc)
+
     def disconnect(self):
         """Disconnects Paho MQTT client"""
         if self.end_program_callback: