diff --git a/spec/compiler/crystal/tools/init_spec.cr b/spec/compiler/crystal/tools/init_spec.cr
index fa70296481f1..40e32651f077 100644
--- a/spec/compiler/crystal/tools/init_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/compiler/crystal/tools/init_spec.cr
@@ -6,17 +6,14 @@ require "spec"
 require "yaml"
 
 PROJECT_ROOT_DIR = "#{__DIR__}/../../../.."
-BIN_CRYSTAL      = File.expand_path("#{PROJECT_ROOT_DIR}/bin/crystal")
 
 private def exec_init(project_name, project_dir = nil, type = "lib")
-  args = ["init", type, project_name]
+  args = [type, project_name]
   args << project_dir if project_dir
 
-  process = Process.new(BIN_CRYSTAL, args, shell: true, error: Process::Redirect::Pipe)
-  stderr = process.error.gets_to_end
-  status = process.wait
-  $? = status
-  stderr
+  config = Crystal::Init.parse_args(args)
+  config.silent = true
+  Crystal::Init::InitProject.new(config).run
 end
 
 # Creates a temporary directory, cd to it and run the block inside it.
@@ -193,11 +190,16 @@ end
       within_temporary_directory do
         existing_dir = "existing-dir"
         Dir.mkdir(existing_dir)
-        exec_init(existing_dir).should contain("file or directory #{existing_dir} already exists")
+
+        expect_raises(Crystal::Init::Error, "File or directory #{existing_dir} already exists") do
+          exec_init(existing_dir)
+        end
 
         existing_file = "existing-file"
         File.touch(existing_file)
-        exec_init(existing_file).should contain("file or directory #{existing_file} already exists")
+        expect_raises(Crystal::Init::Error, "File or directory #{existing_file} already exists") do
+          exec_init(existing_file)
+        end
       end
     end
 
@@ -208,9 +210,11 @@ end
 
         Dir.mkdir(project_name)
 
-        exec_init(project_name, project_dir).should_not contain("file or directory #{project_name} already exists")
+        exec_init(project_name, project_dir)
 
-        exec_init(project_name, project_dir).should contain("file or directory #{project_dir} already exists")
+        expect_raises(Crystal::Init::Error, "File or directory #{project_dir} already exists") do
+          exec_init(project_name, project_dir)
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/src/compiler/crystal/command.cr b/src/compiler/crystal/command.cr
index c46cf0174347..f08cce6c8454 100644
--- a/src/compiler/crystal/command.cr
+++ b/src/compiler/crystal/command.cr
@@ -157,7 +157,12 @@ class Crystal::Command
   end
 
   private def init
-    Init.run(options)
+    begin
+      Init.run(options)
+    rescue ex : Init::Error
+      STDERR.puts ex
+      exit 1
+    end
   end
 
   private def build
diff --git a/src/compiler/crystal/tools/init.cr b/src/compiler/crystal/tools/init.cr
index 151325324fa1..0238f77160dd 100644
--- a/src/compiler/crystal/tools/init.cr
+++ b/src/compiler/crystal/tools/init.cr
@@ -7,7 +7,18 @@ module Crystal
   module Init
     WHICH_GIT_COMMAND = "which git >/dev/null"
 
+    class Error < ::Exception
+      def self.new(message, opts : OptionParser)
+        new("#{message}\n#{opts}\n")
+      end
+    end
+
     def self.run(args)
+      config = parse_args(args)
+      InitProject.new(config).run
+    end
+
+    def self.parse_args(args)
       config = Config.new
 
       OptionParser.parse(args) do |opts|
@@ -40,7 +51,7 @@ module Crystal
       config.author = fetch_author
       config.email = fetch_email
       config.github_name = fetch_github_name
-      InitProject.new(config).run
+      config
     end
 
     def self.fetch_author
@@ -74,8 +85,7 @@ module Crystal
     def self.fetch_directory(args, project_name)
       directory = args.empty? ? project_name : args.shift
       if Dir.exists?(directory) || File.exists?(directory)
-        STDERR.puts "file or directory #{directory} already exists"
-        exit 1
+        raise Error.new "File or directory #{directory} already exists"
       end
       directory
     end
@@ -83,18 +93,14 @@ module Crystal
     def self.fetch_skeleton_type(opts, args)
       skeleton_type = fetch_required_parameter(opts, args, "TYPE")
       unless {"lib", "app"}.includes?(skeleton_type)
-        STDERR.puts "invalid TYPE value: #{skeleton_type}"
-        STDERR.puts opts
-        exit 1
+        raise Error.new "Invalid TYPE value: #{skeleton_type}", opts
       end
       skeleton_type
     end
 
     def self.fetch_required_parameter(opts, args, name)
       if args.empty?
-        STDERR.puts "#{name} is missing"
-        STDERR.puts opts
-        exit 1
+        raise Error.new "Argument #{name} is missing", opts
       end
       args.shift
     end