diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/ast.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/ast.py
index cfead466e1..1351315d78 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/ast.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/parse/ast.py
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ class AddFragmentsNode(AstNode):
                     data.setVarFlag(flagged_var, f, val)
                     data.setVar(flagged_var, None)
             else:
-                bb.error("Could not find fragment {} in enabled layers: {}".format(f, layers))
+                bb.fatal("Could not find fragment {} in enabled layers: {}".format(f, layers))
 
 def handleInclude(statements, filename, lineno, m, force):
     statements.append(IncludeNode(filename, lineno, m.group(1), force))