diff --git a/Changes b/Changes
index 29b972f3b..c0c5f28ca 100644
--- a/Changes
+++ b/Changes
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ Verilator 5.039 devel
 * Support multiple variables on RHS of a `force` assignment (#6163). [Artur Bieniek, Antmicro Ltd.]
 * Support covergroup extends, etc., as unsupported (#6160). [Artur Bieniek, Antmicro Ltd.]
 * Change control file `public_flat_*` and other signal attributes to support __ in names (#6140).
+* Change runtime to exit() instead of abort(), unless under +verilated+debug.
 * Improve `--skip-identical` to skip on identical input file contents (#6109).
 * Optimize to return memory when using -build (#6192) (#6226). [Michael B. Taylor]
 * Optimize 2 ** X to 1 << X if base is signed (#6203). [Max Wipfli]
diff --git a/include/verilated.cpp b/include/verilated.cpp
index 33cf917d4..3fe16f361 100644
--- a/include/verilated.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated.cpp
@@ -168,7 +168,12 @@ void vl_fatal(const char* filename, int linenum, const char* hier, const char* m
 
     // Callbacks prior to termination
     Verilated::runExitCallbacks();
-    std::abort();
+
+    if (Verilated::debug()) {
+        std::abort();
+    } else {
+        std::exit(1);
+    }
 }
 #endif