diff --git a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
index babf05a847..39d5a87889 100644
--- a/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
+++ b/cmd/dockerd/daemon_windows.go
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ func notifySystem() {
 // notifyShutdown is called after the daemon shuts down but before the process exits.
 func notifyShutdown(err error) {
 	if service != nil {
+		if err != nil {
+			logrus.Fatal(err)
+		}
 		service.stopped(err)
 	}
 }