diff --git a/src/bin/sage-dist-helpers b/src/bin/sage-dist-helpers
index 0c2e363d845..41112fc8a08 100644
--- a/src/bin/sage-dist-helpers
+++ b/src/bin/sage-dist-helpers
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ sdh_die() {
 
     if [ $ret -ne 0 ]; then
         _sdh_hr >&2 '*'
-        echo "$msg" | fmt -s -w $(_sdh_cols)
+        echo "$msg" | fmt -s -w $(_sdh_cols) >&2
         _sdh_hr >&2 '*'
         exit $ret
     fi