diff --git a/bootstrap b/bootstrap
index c83eebac..e778aeb6 100755
--- a/bootstrap
+++ b/bootstrap
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@ sh() {
 
 export WANT_AUTOMAKE=1.7
 
-sh autopoint --force # for GNU gettext
-sh libtoolize --copy --force --automake
-sh aclocal -I m4 $ACLOCAL_FLAGS
-#sh autoheader
-sh autoconf
-sh automake --include-deps --add-missing --copy
+sh autopoint --force || exit 1 # for GNU gettext
+sh libtoolize --copy --force --automake || exit 1
+sh aclocal -I m4 $ACLOCAL_FLAGS || exit 1
+#sh autoheader || exit 1
+sh autoconf || exit 1
+sh automake --include-deps --add-missing --copy || exit 1
 
 echo
 echo You are now ready to run ./configure