diff --git a/cvscompile b/cvscompile
index 41bd1f77..af7700eb 100755
--- a/cvscompile
+++ b/cvscompile
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+set -e
+
 touch ltconfig
 libtoolize --force --copy --automake
 aclocal $ACLOCAL_FLAGS
diff --git a/hgcompile b/hgcompile
index 484a400f..a5c5f96d 100755
--- a/hgcompile
+++ b/hgcompile
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+set -e
+
 touch ltconfig
 libtoolize --force --copy --automake
 aclocal $ACLOCAL_FLAGS