diff --git a/tools/rw-heatmaps/main.go b/tools/rw-heatmaps/main.go
index 1a6cb2b2c157..cfd956a9ad0d 100644
--- a/tools/rw-heatmaps/main.go
+++ b/tools/rw-heatmaps/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	"go.etcd.io/etcd/tools/rw-heatmaps/v3/cmd"
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 func main() {
 	if err := cmd.NewRootCommand().Execute(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "error: %v\n", err.Error())
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }