diff --git a/runtime.c b/runtime.c
index 1bade1c1..f121e0c1 100644
--- a/runtime.c
+++ b/runtime.c
@@ -1593,7 +1593,11 @@ void usual_panic(C_char *msg)
   } /* fall through if not WIN32 GUI app */
 
   C_dbg("panic", C_text("%s - execution terminated\n\n%s"), msg, dmp);
+#ifdef DEBUGBUILD
+  abort();
+#else
   C_exit_runtime(C_fix(1));
+#endif
 }
 
 
@@ -1610,7 +1614,11 @@ void horror(C_char *msg)
   } /* fall through */
 
   C_dbg("horror", C_text("\n%s - execution terminated"), msg);  
+#ifdef DEBUGBUILD
+  abort();
+#else
   C_exit_runtime(C_fix(1));
+#endif
 }