diff --git a/change/react-native-windows-2020-05-13-14-16-07-rnw-dep-dontexit.json b/change/react-native-windows-2020-05-13-14-16-07-rnw-dep-dontexit.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bf1bca20445
--- /dev/null
+++ b/change/react-native-windows-2020-05-13-14-16-07-rnw-dep-dontexit.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "type": "prerelease",
+  "comment": "don't exit the powershell session and pause for keyboard input if interactive",
+  "packageName": "react-native-windows",
+  "email": "asklar@microsoft.com",
+  "dependentChangeType": "patch",
+  "date": "2020-05-13T21:16:07.200Z"
+}
diff --git a/vnext/Scripts/rnw-dependencies.ps1 b/vnext/Scripts/rnw-dependencies.ps1
index d91ee41d40d..c274c09006f 100644
--- a/vnext/Scripts/rnw-dependencies.ps1
+++ b/vnext/Scripts/rnw-dependencies.ps1
@@ -145,9 +145,11 @@ foreach ($req in $requirements)
 }
 
 if ($NeedsRerun) {
-    Write-Output "Some dependencies are not met. Re-run with -Install to install them.";
-    exit 1;
+    Write-Error "Some dependencies are not met. Re-run with -Install to install them.";
+    if (!$NoPrompt) {
+        [System.Console]::ReadKey();
+    }
+    throw;
 } else {
     Write-Output "All mandatory requirements met";
-    exit 0;
 }