diff --git a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_clang_format/clang_format_all_the_things.sh b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_clang_format/clang_format_all_the_things.sh
index 5da9dfabbac..f174d194dde 100755
--- a/tools/dockerfile/grpc_clang_format/clang_format_all_the_things.sh
+++ b/tools/dockerfile/grpc_clang_format/clang_format_all_the_things.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+set -e
+
 # directories to run against
 DIRS="src/core src/cpp test/core test/cpp include"