diff --git a/cmd/builder/internal/command.go b/cmd/builder/internal/command.go
index 3dee3a6e586..a825bf4c333 100644
--- a/cmd/builder/internal/command.go
+++ b/cmd/builder/internal/command.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func initConfig() error {
 
 	// load the config file
 	if err := k.Load(file.Provider(cfgFile), yaml.Parser()); err != nil {
-		cfg.Logger.Error("failed to load config file", zap.String("config-file", cfgFile), zap.Error(err))
+		cfg.Logger.Fatal("failed to load config file", zap.String("config-file", cfgFile), zap.Error(err))
 	}
 
 	// handle env variables