diff --git a/include/fluent-bit/flb_reload.h b/include/fluent-bit/flb_reload.h
index 7066505a21c..d2da3575df1 100644
--- a/include/fluent-bit/flb_reload.h
+++ b/include/fluent-bit/flb_reload.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 
 #define FLB_RELOAD_IDLE 0
 #define FLB_RELOAD_IN_PROGRESS 1
+#define FLB_RELOAD_ABORTED     2
 
 int flb_reload_property_check_all(struct flb_config *config);
 int flb_reload_reconstruct_cf(struct flb_cf *src_cf, struct flb_cf *dest_cf);
diff --git a/src/flb_reload.c b/src/flb_reload.c
index ea43a3554d4..796ed3e06c9 100644
--- a/src/flb_reload.c
+++ b/src/flb_reload.c
@@ -512,12 +512,19 @@ int flb_reload(flb_ctx_t *ctx, struct flb_cf *cf_opts)
 
     ret = flb_start(new_ctx);
 
-    /* Store the new value of hot reloading times into the new context */
-    if (ret == 0) {
-        new_config->hot_reloaded_count = reloaded_count;
-        flb_debug("[reload] hot reloaded %d time(s)", reloaded_count);
-        new_config->hot_reloading = FLB_FALSE;
+    if (ret != 0) {
+        flb_stop(new_ctx);
+        flb_destroy(new_ctx);
+
+        flb_error("[reload] loaded configuration contains error(s). Reloading is aborted");
+
+        return -1;
     }
 
+    /* Store the new value of hot reloading times into the new context */
+    new_config->hot_reloaded_count = reloaded_count;
+    flb_debug("[reload] hot reloaded %d time(s)", reloaded_count);
+    new_config->hot_reloading = FLB_FALSE;
+
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/fluent-bit.c b/src/fluent-bit.c
index 8ecd517f859..b48d35c3241 100644
--- a/src/fluent-bit.c
+++ b/src/fluent-bit.c
@@ -1394,16 +1394,23 @@ int flb_main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif
         if (flb_bin_restarting == FLB_RELOAD_IN_PROGRESS) {
             /* reload by using same config files/path */
-            flb_reload(ctx, cf_opts);
-            ctx = flb_context_get();
-            flb_bin_restarting = FLB_RELOAD_IDLE;
+            ret = flb_reload(ctx, cf_opts);
+            if (ret == 0) {
+                ctx = flb_context_get();
+                flb_bin_restarting = FLB_RELOAD_IDLE;
+            }
+            else {
+                flb_bin_restarting = FLB_RELOAD_ABORTED;
+            }
         }
     }
 
     if (exit_signal) {
         flb_signal_exit(exit_signal);
     }
-    ret = ctx->config->exit_status_code;
+    if (flb_bin_restarting != FLB_RELOAD_ABORTED) {
+        ret = ctx->config->exit_status_code;
+    }
 
     cf_opts = flb_cf_context_get();
 
@@ -1425,8 +1432,12 @@ int flb_main(int argc, char **argv)
      }
 #endif
 
-    flb_stop(ctx);
-    flb_destroy(ctx);
+     if (flb_bin_restarting == FLB_RELOAD_ABORTED) {
+         fprintf(stderr, "reloading is aborted and exit\n");
+     } else {
+         flb_stop(ctx);
+         flb_destroy(ctx);
+     }
 
     return ret;
 }