diff --git a/src/grep_cmd.rs b/src/grep_cmd.rs
index f4be80d..03c5a85 100644
--- a/src/grep_cmd.rs
+++ b/src/grep_cmd.rs
@@ -44,10 +44,18 @@ pub fn run(
         .context("grep/rg failed")?;
 
     let stdout = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stdout);
+    let exit_code = output.status.code().unwrap_or(1);
 
     let raw_output = stdout.to_string();
 
     if stdout.trim().is_empty() {
+        // Show stderr for errors (bad regex, missing file, etc.)
+        if exit_code == 2 {
+            let stderr = String::from_utf8_lossy(&output.stderr);
+            if !stderr.trim().is_empty() {
+                eprintln!("{}", stderr.trim());
+            }
+        }
         let msg = format!("🔍 0 for '{}'", pattern);
         println!("{}", msg);
         timer.track(
@@ -56,6 +64,9 @@ pub fn run(
             &raw_output,
             &msg,
         );
+        if exit_code != 0 {
+            std::process::exit(exit_code);
+        }
         return Ok(());
     }
 
@@ -121,6 +132,10 @@ pub fn run(
         &rtk_output,
     );
 
+    if exit_code != 0 {
+        std::process::exit(exit_code);
+    }
+
     Ok(())
 }