diff --git a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showinplay.sh b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showinplay.sh
index 45999be57..70918f7aa 100755
--- a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showinplay.sh
+++ b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showinplay.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ LIMIT=10000
 
 usage() {
     echo "usage: $0 [--limit <n>]"
+    exit 1
 }
 
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showmsgs.sh b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showmsgs.sh
index eedba6495..95c60efad 100755
--- a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showmsgs.sh
+++ b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showmsgs.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ CONNNAME=""
 
 usage() {
     echo "usage: $0 [--connname <s>]"
+    exit 1
 }
 
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
diff --git a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showrecent.sh b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showrecent.sh
index b1f445608..5c8992e49 100755
--- a/xwords4/relay/scripts/showrecent.sh
+++ b/xwords4/relay/scripts/showrecent.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ LIMIT=10000
 
 usage() {
     echo "usage: $0 [--limit <n>]"
+    exit 1
 }
 
 while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do