diff --git a/email/patchman-email b/email/patchman-email
index d59a0a8c..dafc6328 100755
--- a/email/patchman-email
+++ b/email/patchman-email
@@ -83,6 +83,11 @@ email() {
     fi
 }
 
+fatal() {
+    echo "$@" >&2
+    kill -10 $proc
+}
+
 getConfig() {
     # Gets the configuration of section $1, parameter $2
     val=$(sed -nr "/\[$1\]/,/\[/{/^(\W|)$2=/p}" $CONF)