diff --git a/packages/linux/package.mk b/packages/linux/package.mk
index c5ae3872f3..bd8a79ee65 100644
--- a/packages/linux/package.mk
+++ b/packages/linux/package.mk
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ make_target() {
   ( cd $ROOT
     rm -rf $BUILD/initramfs
     $SCRIPTS/install initramfs
-  )
+  ) || die "FAILURE: Building initramfs"
 
   if [ "$BOOTLOADER" = "u-boot" -a -n "$KERNEL_UBOOT_EXTRA_TARGET" ]; then
     for extra_target in "$KERNEL_UBOOT_EXTRA_TARGET"; do