diff --git a/debian/build-git-snapshot b/debian/build-git-snapshot
index a2a0e9f86f..2d13f777a0 100755
--- a/debian/build-git-snapshot
+++ b/debian/build-git-snapshot
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ sub sys_command_output_screen {
     my ($command) = @_;
 
     print "$command\n" if $debug;
-    system($command);
+    system($command) == 0 or die "Command '$command' returns an error ($?)\n";
 }
 
 sub everything_is_committed {