diff --git a/mkdocs/commands/babel.py b/mkdocs/commands/babel.py
index 2ccadc28..9de5be8f 100644
--- a/mkdocs/commands/babel.py
+++ b/mkdocs/commands/babel.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import sys
 from distutils.errors import DistutilsOptionError
 from os import path
 
@@ -31,6 +32,12 @@ class compile_catalog(babel.compile_catalog, ThemeMixin):
         ("theme=", "t", "theme name to work on"),
     ]
 
+    def run(self):
+        # Possible bug in Babel - produces unused return value:
+        # https://github.com/python-babel/babel/blob/v2.10.3/babel/messages/frontend.py#L194
+        if super().run():
+            sys.exit(1)
+
     def initialize_options(self):
         super().initialize_options()
         self.theme = None