diff --git a/conda_build/inspect_pkg.py b/conda_build/inspect_pkg.py
index fbfb24f958..a156b9f2ec 100644
--- a/conda_build/inspect_pkg.py
+++ b/conda_build/inspect_pkg.py
@@ -315,7 +315,9 @@ def inspect_objects(
     groupby: str = "package",
 ):
     if not on_mac:
-        sys.exit("Error: conda inspect objects is only implemented in OS X")
+        raise CondaBuildUserError(
+            "Error: conda inspect objects is only implemented in OS X"
+        )
 
     prefix = Path(prefix)
     installed = {prec.name: prec for prec in PrefixData(str(prefix)).iter_records()}
diff --git a/tests/test_inspect_pkg.py b/tests/test_inspect_pkg.py
index 76ddd51e12..4f20b85105 100644
--- a/tests/test_inspect_pkg.py
+++ b/tests/test_inspect_pkg.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 from conda.core.prefix_data import PrefixData
 
 from conda_build.exceptions import CondaBuildUserError
-from conda_build.inspect_pkg import inspect_linkages, which_package
-from conda_build.utils import on_win
+from conda_build.inspect_pkg import inspect_linkages, inspect_objects, which_package
+from conda_build.utils import on_mac, on_win
 
 
 def test_which_package(tmp_path: Path):
@@ -289,3 +289,9 @@ def test_inspect_linkages_on_win():
 def test_inspect_linkages_not_installed():
     with pytest.raises(CondaBuildUserError):
         inspect_linkages(["not_installed_pkg"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(on_mac, reason="inspect_objects is only available on macOS")
+def test_inspect_objects_not_on_mac():
+    with pytest.raises(CondaBuildUserError):
+        inspect_objects([])