diff --git a/scripts/gen_image_generic.sh b/scripts/gen_image_generic.sh
index 206ba7f3fa..d9beeb0295 100755
--- a/scripts/gen_image_generic.sh
+++ b/scripts/gen_image_generic.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # Copyright (C) 2006-2012 OpenWrt.org
-set -x
+set -e -x
 [ $# == 5 -o $# == 6 ] || {
     echo "SYNTAX: $0 <file> <kernel size> <kernel directory> <rootfs size> <rootfs image> [<align>]"
     exit 1