diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Exit.h b/desktop_version/src/Exit.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3b9ff62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Exit.h
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#ifndef VVV_EXIT_H
+#define VVV_EXIT_H
+
+void VVV_exit(const int exit_code);
+
+#endif /* VVV_EXIT_H */
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/main.cpp b/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
index 2ff9c8bd..2ec1f24c 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
@@ -377,6 +377,12 @@ static void cleanup()
     FILESYSTEM_deinit();
 }
 
+void VVV_exit(const int exit_code)
+{
+    cleanup();
+    exit(exit_code);
+}
+
 static void inline deltaloop()
 {
     //timestep limit to 30