diff --git a/packages.nix b/packages.nix
index 5a2a49ba..3201c942 100644
--- a/packages.nix
+++ b/packages.nix
@@ -115,7 +115,11 @@ lib.attrsets.mapAttrs
             exit 2
           ''}
 
-          [[ $(ssh ${target} cat /etc/hostname) == ${name} ]]
+          if [[ $(ssh ${target} cat /etc/hostname) != ${name} ]]; then
+            echo "hostname of the target machine does not match, please manually investiagte!"
+            echo "  $(ssh ${target} cat /etc/hostname) != ${name}"
+            exit 1
+          fi
           nix copy --no-check-sigs --to ssh-ng://${target} ${inputPaths}
           nix copy --no-check-sigs --derivation --to ssh-ng://${target} ${toplevelDrvPath}