diff --git a/src/utils/memory.cpp b/src/utils/memory.cpp
index c261cbf3..93bc3af9 100644
--- a/src/utils/memory.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/memory.cpp
@@ -42,10 +42,7 @@ static void *_FCEU_malloc(uint32 size)
 	#endif
 
 	if(!ret)
-	{
-		FCEU_PrintError("Error allocating memory!  Doing a hard exit.");
-		exit(1);
-	}
+		FCEU_abort("Error allocating memory!");
 
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -98,3 +95,9 @@ void FCEU_dfree(void *ptr)
 {
 	return FCEU_free(ptr);
 }
+
+void FCEU_abort(const char* message)
+{
+	if(message) FCEU_PrintError(message);
+	abort();
+}
diff --git a/src/utils/memory.h b/src/utils/memory.h
index 174b3d31..b9e6f145 100644
--- a/src/utils/memory.h
+++ b/src/utils/memory.h
@@ -42,3 +42,6 @@ void *FCEU_dmalloc(uint32 size);
 
 //don't use these. change them if you find them.
 void FCEU_dfree(void *ptr);
+
+//aborts the process for fatal errors
+void FCEU_abort(const char* message = nullptr);