diff --git a/src/kernel_services/ast_queries/file.ml b/src/kernel_services/ast_queries/file.ml
index a26081d3e9db282edeb23b93ec65e2a3106b44cd..889b5cead9a6125ce7d8dba87510a21f24d7ff73 100644
--- a/src/kernel_services/ast_queries/file.ml
+++ b/src/kernel_services/ast_queries/file.ml
@@ -1671,7 +1671,7 @@ let compute_sources_table cpp_commands =
         if exit_code <> 0 then begin
           let cause_frama_c_compliant =
             if not (Kernel.CppGnuLike.get ()) then
-              Kernel.abort "\nPlease ensure preprocessor is Frama-C-compliant \
+              Format.asprintf "\nPlease ensure preprocessor is Frama-C-compliant \
                             (see option %s)"
                 Kernel.CppGnuLike.option_name
             else ""