diff --git a/distcc/post-install b/distcc/post-install
index ab2aecce6..8775e8dea 100755
--- a/distcc/post-install
+++ b/distcc/post-install
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ if [ ! -d "$DIRECTORY" ]; then
 		done
 		cd - > /dev/null
 	else
-		echo "post-install: error no permission to create symlinks in '$DIRECTORY'."
+		echo "post-install: error no permission to create directory '$DIRECTORY'."
+		exit 1
 	fi
 fi
 unset NOT_INSTALLED SYMLINKS DIRECTORY