diff --git a/src/core/IO.pm b/src/core/IO.pm
index d54e6750488..5a30767fef9 100644
--- a/src/core/IO.pm
+++ b/src/core/IO.pm
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ sub open($filename, :$r, :$w, :$a) {
     my $mode = $w ?? 'w' !! ($a ?? 'wa' !! 'r');
     my $PIO = pir::open__PSS($filename, $mode);
     unless pir::istrue__IP($PIO) {
-        die("Unable to open file '$filename'");
+        fail("Unable to open file '$filename'");
     }
     $PIO.encoding('utf8');
     IO.new(:$PIO)