diff --git a/cobra.go b/cobra.go
index a6b160ce..c62b52c2 100644
--- a/cobra.go
+++ b/cobra.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ package cobra
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"os"
 	"reflect"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -229,11 +228,10 @@ func stringInSlice(a string, list []string) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
-// CheckErr prints the msg with the prefix 'Error:' and exits with error code 1. If the msg is nil, it does nothing.
+// CheckErr prints the msg with the prefix 'panic:' and exits with code != 0. If the msg is nil, it does nothing.
 func CheckErr(msg interface{}) {
 	if msg != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Error:", msg)
-		os.Exit(1)
+		panic(msg)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cobra_test.go b/cobra_test.go
index fbb07f9b..5112fed2 100644
--- a/cobra_test.go
+++ b/cobra_test.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package cobra
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"testing"
 	"text/template"
 )
@@ -40,3 +41,44 @@ func TestAddTemplateFunctions(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected UsageString: %v\nGot: %v", expected, got)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestCheckErr(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		msg   interface{}
+		panic bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:  "no error",
+			msg:   nil,
+			panic: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "panic string",
+			msg:   "test",
+			panic: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:  "panic error",
+			msg:   errors.New("test error"),
+			panic: true,
+		},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			defer func() {
+				r := recover()
+				if r != nil {
+					if !tt.panic {
+						t.Error("Didn't expect panic")
+					}
+				} else {
+					if tt.panic {
+						t.Error("Expected to panic")
+					}
+				}
+			}()
+			CheckErr(tt.msg)
+		})
+	}
+}