diff --git a/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml b/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml
index 13cfdb82bd0..91045adc608 100644
--- a/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/checkstyle.xml
@@ -103,6 +103,14 @@
       <property name="ignoreComments" value="true"/>
     </module>
 
+    <module name="Regexp">
+      <property name="id" value="dontUseSystemExit"/>
+      <property name="format" value="System\.exit"/>
+      <property name="illegalPattern" value="true"/>
+      <property name="ignoreComments" value="true"/>
+      <property name="message" value="'System.exit': Should not directly call System.exit, but Exit.exit instead."/>
+    </module>
+
     <!-- code quality -->
     <module name="MethodLength"/>
     <module name="ParameterNumber">
diff --git a/checkstyle/suppressions.xml b/checkstyle/suppressions.xml
index f6bafbfcfe5..57cf0798137 100644
--- a/checkstyle/suppressions.xml
+++ b/checkstyle/suppressions.xml
@@ -17,8 +17,12 @@
               files="(ApiMessageType).java|MessageDataGenerator.java"/>
     <suppress checks="MethodLength"
               files="MessageDataGenerator.java"/>
+    <suppress id="dontUseSystemExit"
+              files="MessageGenerator.java"/>
 
     <!-- Clients -->
+    <suppress id="dontUseSystemExit"
+              files="Exit.java"/>
     <suppress checks="ClassFanOutComplexity"
               files="(Fetcher|Sender|SenderTest|ConsumerCoordinator|KafkaConsumer|KafkaProducer|Utils|TransactionManager|TransactionManagerTest|KafkaAdminClient|NetworkClient|Admin).java"/>
     <suppress checks="ClassFanOutComplexity"
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@
     <suppress checks="NPathComplexity"
             files="MessageTest.java"/>
 
-    <!-- clients tests -->
+    <!-- Clients tests -->
     <suppress checks="ClassDataAbstractionCoupling"
               files="(Sender|Fetcher|KafkaConsumer|Metrics|RequestResponse|TransactionManager|KafkaAdminClient|Message|KafkaProducer)Test.java"/>
 
@@ -167,7 +171,7 @@
     <suppress checks="FinalLocalVariable"
               files="^(?!.*[\\/]org[\\/]apache[\\/]kafka[\\/]streams[\\/].*$)"/>
 
-    <!-- generated code -->
+    <!-- Generated code -->
     <suppress checks="(NPathComplexity|ClassFanOutComplexity|CyclomaticComplexity|ClassDataAbstractionCoupling|FinalLocalVariable|LocalVariableName|MemberName|ParameterName|MethodLength|JavaNCSS)"
               files="streams[\\/]src[\\/](generated|generated-test)[\\/].+.java$"/>
 
@@ -195,16 +199,19 @@
     <suppress checks="(FinalLocalVariable|WhitespaceAround|LocalVariableName|ImportControl|AvoidStarImport)"
               files="Murmur3Test.java"/>
 
-    <!-- Streams Test-Utils -->
+    <!-- Streams test-utils -->
     <suppress checks="ClassFanOutComplexity"
               files="TopologyTestDriver.java"/>
     <suppress checks="ClassDataAbstractionCoupling"
               files="TopologyTestDriver.java"/>
 
+    <!-- Streams examples -->
+    <suppress id="dontUseSystemExit"
+              files="PageViewTypedDemo.java|PipeDemo.java|TemperatureDemo.java|WordCountDemo.java|WordCountProcessorDemo.java|WordCountTransformerDemo.java"/>
+
     <!-- Tools -->
     <suppress checks="ClassDataAbstractionCoupling"
               files="VerifiableConsumer.java"/>
-
     <suppress checks="CyclomaticComplexity"
               files="(StreamsResetter|ProducerPerformance|Agent).java"/>
     <suppress checks="BooleanExpressionComplexity"
@@ -219,6 +226,10 @@
               files="ProduceBenchSpec.java"/>
     <suppress checks="ParameterNumber"
               files="SustainedConnectionSpec.java"/>
+    <suppress id="dontUseSystemExit"
+              files="VerifiableConsumer.java"/>
+    <suppress id="dontUseSystemExit"
+              files="VerifiableProducer.java"/>
 
     <!-- Log4J-Appender -->
     <suppress checks="CyclomaticComplexity"
diff --git a/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/pageview/PageViewTypedDemo.java b/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/pageview/PageViewTypedDemo.java
index f09ac80aed2..b1c17325328 100644
--- a/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/pageview/PageViewTypedDemo.java
+++ b/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/pageview/PageViewTypedDemo.java
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package org.apache.kafka.streams.examples.pageview;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonSubTypes;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonTypeInfo;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
-import java.time.Duration;
 import org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.ConsumerConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.errors.SerializationException;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.Deserializer;
@@ -37,6 +36,7 @@ import org.apache.kafka.streams.kstream.KTable;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.kstream.TimeWindows;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
+import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.Map;
 import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
diff --git a/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/wordcount/WordCountProcessorDemo.java b/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/wordcount/WordCountProcessorDemo.java
index 0c9abc69b38..8f7304c274e 100644
--- a/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/wordcount/WordCountProcessorDemo.java
+++ b/streams/examples/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/examples/wordcount/WordCountProcessorDemo.java
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.examples.wordcount;
 
-import java.time.Duration;
 import org.apache.kafka.clients.consumer.ConsumerConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.Serdes;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.KafkaStreams;
@@ -31,6 +30,7 @@ import org.apache.kafka.streams.state.KeyValueIterator;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.state.KeyValueStore;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.state.Stores;
 
+import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.Locale;
 import java.util.Properties;
 import java.util.concurrent.CountDownLatch;
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/integration/SmokeTestDriverIntegrationTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/integration/SmokeTestDriverIntegrationTest.java
index 0e4e78ff68f..ea21d55947f 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/integration/SmokeTestDriverIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/integration/SmokeTestDriverIntegrationTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.integration;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.integration.utils.EmbeddedKafkaCluster;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.integration.utils.IntegrationTestUtils;
@@ -80,6 +81,12 @@ public class SmokeTestDriverIntegrationTest {
 
     @Test
     public void shouldWorkWithRebalance() throws InterruptedException {
+        Exit.setExitProcedure((statusCode, message) -> {
+            throw new AssertionError("Test called exit(). code:" + statusCode + " message:" + message);
+        });
+        Exit.setHaltProcedure((statusCode, message) -> {
+            throw new AssertionError("Test called halt(). code:" + statusCode + " message:" + message);
+        });
         int numClientsCreated = 0;
         final ArrayList<SmokeTestClient> clients = new ArrayList<>();
 
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/BrokerCompatibilityTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/BrokerCompatibilityTest.java
index 5b8e48eb8c7..961d76e2d69 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/BrokerCompatibilityTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/BrokerCompatibilityTest.java
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.Serde;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.Serdes;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.StringDeserializer;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.serialization.StringSerializer;
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.KafkaStreams;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsBuilder;
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ public class BrokerCompatibilityTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("BrokerCompatibilityTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, processingMode; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         System.out.println("StreamsTest instance started");
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ public class BrokerCompatibilityTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         streamsProperties.put(StreamsConfig.APPLICATION_ID_CONFIG, "kafka-streams-system-test-broker-compatibility");
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest.java
index 5b879f7c0b5..c1fef626454 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest.java
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public class StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, additionalConfigs; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         System.out.println("StreamsTest instance started");
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         streamsProperties.put(StreamsConfig.APPLICATION_ID_CONFIG, "kafka-streams-resilience");
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class StreamsBrokerDownResilienceTest {
                                              StreamsConfig.producerPrefix(ProducerConfig.REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS_CONFIG),
                                              StreamsConfig.producerPrefix(ProducerConfig.MAX_BLOCK_MS_CONFIG)));
 
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final StreamsBuilder builder = new StreamsBuilder();
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsEosTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsEosTest.java
index 52af996edaa..aa195d09c28 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsEosTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsEosTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ public class StreamsEosTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsEosTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ public class StreamsEosTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command) || "process-complex".equals(command)) {
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ public class StreamsEosTest {
                 !StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE_BETA.equals(processingGuarantee)) {
 
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE + " or " + StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE_BETA);
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ public class StreamsEosTest {
         System.out.flush();
 
         if (command == null || propFileName == null) {
-            System.exit(-1);
+            Exit.exit(-1);
         }
 
         switch (command) {
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ public class StreamsEosTest {
             default:
                 System.out.println("unknown command: " + command);
                 System.out.flush();
-                System.exit(-1);
+                Exit.exit(-1);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 933fb7d8909..1b425c50739 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + ", " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE + ", or " + StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE_BETA);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsStandByReplicaTest.java b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsStandByReplicaTest.java
index 0d424749dad..4da2b2d4815 100644
--- a/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsStandByReplicaTest.java
+++ b/streams/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsStandByReplicaTest.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class StreamsStandByReplicaTest {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsStandByReplicaTest are expecting two parameters: " +
                 "propFile, additionalConfigs; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         System.out.println("StreamsTest instance started");
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class StreamsStandByReplicaTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
         
         streamsProperties.put(StreamsConfig.APPLICATION_ID_CONFIG, "kafka-streams-standby-tasks");
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public class StreamsStandByReplicaTest {
         if (additionalConfigs == null) {
             System.err.println("additional configs are not provided");
             System.err.flush();
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final Map<String, String> updated = SystemTestUtil.parseConfigs(additionalConfigs);
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class StreamsStandByReplicaTest {
                 sinkTopic1,
                 sinkTopic2));
             System.err.flush();
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         streamsProperties.putAll(updated);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public class StreamsStandByReplicaTest {
                                              StreamsConfig.producerPrefix(ProducerConfig.REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MS_CONFIG),
                                              StreamsConfig.producerPrefix(ProducerConfig.MAX_BLOCK_MS_CONFIG)));
 
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final StreamsBuilder builder = new StreamsBuilder();
diff --git a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-22/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-22/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 07c7d5d82eb..f280eb07218 100644
--- a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-22/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-22/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + " or " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-23/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-23/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 07c7d5d82eb..f280eb07218 100644
--- a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-23/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-23/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + " or " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-24/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-24/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 07c7d5d82eb..f280eb07218 100644
--- a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-24/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-24/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + " or " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-25/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-25/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 07c7d5d82eb..f280eb07218 100644
--- a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-25/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-25/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + " or " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-26/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-26/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
index 07c7d5d82eb..f280eb07218 100644
--- a/streams/upgrade-system-tests-26/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
+++ b/streams/upgrade-system-tests-26/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/streams/tests/StreamsSmokeTest.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.kafka.streams.tests;
 
+import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Exit;
 import org.apache.kafka.common.utils.Utils;
 import org.apache.kafka.streams.StreamsConfig;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
     public static void main(final String[] args) throws IOException {
         if (args.length < 2) {
             System.err.println("StreamsSmokeTest are expecting two parameters: propFile, command; but only see " + args.length + " parameter");
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         final String propFileName = args[0];
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
 
         if (kafka == null) {
             System.err.println("No bootstrap kafka servers specified in " + StreamsConfig.BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS_CONFIG);
-            System.exit(1);
+            Exit.exit(1);
         }
 
         if ("process".equals(command)) {
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ public class StreamsSmokeTest {
                 System.err.println("processingGuarantee must be either " + StreamsConfig.AT_LEAST_ONCE + " or " +
                     StreamsConfig.EXACTLY_ONCE);
 
-                System.exit(1);
+                Exit.exit(1);
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/tools/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/tools/TransactionalMessageCopier.java b/tools/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/tools/TransactionalMessageCopier.java
index 13c18d088b5..cbdfa4df1a2 100644
--- a/tools/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/tools/TransactionalMessageCopier.java
+++ b/tools/src/main/java/org/apache/kafka/tools/TransactionalMessageCopier.java
@@ -382,6 +382,6 @@ public class TransactionalMessageCopier {
                 consumer.close();
             }
         }
-        System.exit(0);
+        Exit.exit(0);
     }
 }