diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index bf87066..555dc1e 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ package main
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
-	"os"
-	"os/exec"
+	"log"
+
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/joho/godotenv"
@@ -38,23 +38,17 @@ example
 	}
 
 	// load env
-	// TODO would be nicer for an empty rawEnvFilenames to give us an empty map
-	// and then only call Load() once
-	// other TODO error handling on Load()
-	if rawEnvFilenames == "" {
-		godotenv.Load()
-	} else {
-		envFilenames := strings.Split(rawEnvFilenames, ",")
-		godotenv.Load(envFilenames...)
+	var envFilenames []string
+	if rawEnvFilenames != "" {
+		envFilenames = strings.Split(rawEnvFilenames, ",")
 	}
 
 	// take rest of args and "exec" them
 	cmd := args[0]
 	cmdArgs := args[1:len(args)]
 
-	command := exec.Command(cmd, cmdArgs...)
-	command.Stdin = os.Stdin
-	command.Stdout = os.Stdout
-	command.Stderr = os.Stderr
-	command.Start()
+	err := godotenv.Exec(envFilenames, cmd, cmdArgs)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/godotenv.go b/godotenv.go
index 6b643f3..83c7a80 100644
--- a/godotenv.go
+++ b/godotenv.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"bufio"
 	"errors"
 	"os"
+	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
 )
 
@@ -65,6 +66,16 @@ func Read(filenames ...string) (envMap map[string]string, err error) {
 	return
 }
 
+func Exec(filenames []string, cmd string, cmdArgs []string) error {
+	Load(filenames...)
+
+	command := exec.Command(cmd, cmdArgs...)
+	command.Stdin = os.Stdin
+	command.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	command.Stderr = os.Stderr
+	return command.Run()
+}
+
 func filenamesOrDefault(filenames []string) []string {
 	if len(filenames) == 0 {
 		return []string{".env"}