diff --git a/include/common/log.h b/include/common/log.h
index b2ae2efd..e3beb8cb 100644
--- a/include/common/log.h
+++ b/include/common/log.h
@@ -11,4 +11,9 @@ void info(const char *msg, ...);
  */
 void warn(const char *err, ...);
 
+/**
+ * die - print fatal message and exit()
+ */
+void die(const char *err, ...);
+
 #endif /* __LABWC_LOG_H */
diff --git a/src/common/log.c b/src/common/log.c
index 566c0d7b..b9986fb7 100644
--- a/src/common/log.c
+++ b/src/common/log.c
@@ -32,3 +32,15 @@ warn(const char *err, ...)
 	fprintf(stderr, LABWC_COLOR_RESET);
 	fprintf(stderr, "\n");
 }
+
+void
+die(const char *err, ...)
+{
+	va_list params;
+	fprintf(stderr, "[labwc] fatal: ");
+	va_start(params, err);
+	vfprintf(stderr, err, params);
+	va_end(params);
+	fprintf(stderr, "\n");
+	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
+}