diff --git a/script/init.d/ethercat b/script/init.d/ethercat
index e4b7b63f4f2554830057cd9d952852b1d141e96e..f0ad44769b5e8d0b8ddda58715da73f8f54f5c28 100755
--- a/script/init.d/ethercat
+++ b/script/init.d/ethercat
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ function exit_fail()
 {
     if [ -r /etc/rc.status ]; then
         rc_failed
+        rc_status -v
         rc_exit
     else
         echo " failed"
@@ -112,6 +113,20 @@ function exit_fail()
 
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+function exit_dead()
+{
+    if [ -r /etc/rc.status ]; then
+        rc_failed
+        rc_status -v
+        rc_exit
+    else
+        echo " dead"
+        exit 1
+    fi
+}
+
+#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 function parse_mac_address()
 {
     if [ -z "${1}" ]; then
@@ -241,7 +256,7 @@ status)
     if [ ${MASTERS_RUNNING} -eq 0 -a ${MASTERS_IDLE} -eq 0 ]; then
         exit_running
     else
-        exit_fail
+        exit_dead
     fi
     ;;