diff --git a/usr.bin/tar/write.c b/usr.bin/tar/write.c
index 20e9316e8d4..894b9bac333 100644
--- a/usr.bin/tar/write.c
+++ b/usr.bin/tar/write.c
@@ -655,8 +655,10 @@ write_hierarchy(struct bsdtar *bsdtar, struct archive *a, const char *path)
 		const struct stat *st = NULL, *lst = NULL;
 		int descend;
 
-		if (tree_ret == TREE_ERROR_DIR)
+		if (tree_ret == TREE_ERROR_DIR) {
 			bsdtar_warnc(bsdtar, errno, "%s: Couldn't visit directory", name);
+			bsdtar->return_value = 1;
+		}
 		if (tree_ret != TREE_REGULAR)
 			continue;
 		lst = tree_current_lstat(tree);