diff --git a/rsync.c b/rsync.c
index f1404ce..b82e598 100644
--- a/rsync.c
+++ b/rsync.c
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ int finish_transfer(const char *fname, const char *fnametmp,
 	if (make_backups > 0 && overwriting_basis) {
 		int ok = make_backup(fname, False);
 		if (!ok)
-			return 1;
+			exit_cleanup(RERR_FILEIO);
 		if (ok == 1 && fnamecmp == fname)
 			fnamecmp = get_backup_name(fname);
 	}