diff --git a/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsExporter.java b/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsExporter.java
index 1d2bd0f5b..ba4ed8dec 100644
--- a/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsExporter.java
+++ b/main/src/com/google/refine/exporters/XlsExporter.java
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ public class XlsExporter implements StreamExporter {
                     Cell c = r.createCell(i);
                     if (i == 255 && cells.size() > 256) {
                         c.setCellValue("ERROR: TOO MANY COLUMNS");
+                        break;
                     } else {
                         CellData cellData = cells.get(i);