diff --git a/examples/hdf5.py b/examples/hdf5.py
index 0cbf667f..3e239d9f 100644
--- a/examples/hdf5.py
+++ b/examples/hdf5.py
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ if len(sys.argv) > 1:
 else:
     fileName = 'test.hdf5'
     if not os.path.isfile(fileName):
-        print("No suitable HDF5 file found. Use createFile() to generate an example file.")
-        os._exit(1)
+        raise Exception("No suitable HDF5 file found. Use createFile() to generate an example file.")
 
 plt = pg.plot()
 plt.setWindowTitle('pyqtgraph example: HDF5 big data')