diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 40dbf34b9247..d676d4603de1 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 .ONESHELL:
 SHELL = /bin/bash
+.SHELLFLAGS += -e
 
 KVERSION_SHORT ?= 3.16.0-5
 KVERSION ?= $(KVERSION_SHORT)-amd64
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ $(addprefix $(DEST)/, $(MAIN_TARGET)): $(DEST)/% :
 	pushd $(BUILD_DIR)
 	git init
 	git add -f *
+	git commit -m "check in all loose files and diffs"
 
 	# patch debian changelog and update kernel package version
 	git am ../patch/changelog.patch