diff --git a/packages/angular/cli/bin/ng b/packages/angular/cli/bin/ng
index cae16e5be8e2..e9e7198c65d5 100755
--- a/packages/angular/cli/bin/ng
+++ b/packages/angular/cli/bin/ng
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ try {
 // tslint:disable-next-line: no-var-keyword
 var version = process.versions.node.split('.').map(part => Number(part));
 if (version[0] < 10 || version[0] === 11 || (version[0] === 10 && version[1] < 13)) {
-  process.stderr.write(
+  console.error(
     'Node.js version ' + process.version + ' detected.\n' +
     'The Angular CLI requires a minimum Node.js version of either v10.13 or v12.0.\n\n' +
-    'Please update your Node.js version or visit https://nodejs.org/ for additional instructions.\n',
+    'Please update your Node.js version or visit https://nodejs.org/ for additional instructions.\n'
   );
 
-  process.exit(3);
+  process.exitCode = 3;
+} else {
+  require('../lib/init');
 }
-
-require('../lib/init');