diff --git a/usr.bin/top/top.c b/usr.bin/top/top.c
--- a/usr.bin/top/top.c
+++ b/usr.bin/top/top.c
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@
 #endif
 
     if (setlocale(LC_ALL, "") == NULL) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "invalid locale.\n");
-	exit(1);
+	warnx("invalid locale, check your environment");
+	sleep(2);
     }
 
     mypid = getpid();