diff --git a/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk b/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
index 27f43f02c..add61d693 100644
--- a/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
+++ b/package/jimtcl/jimtcl.mk
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ endef
 
 define JIMTCL_INSTALL_STAGING_CMDS
 	for i in $(JIMTCL_HEADERS_TO_INSTALL); do \
-		cp -a $(@D)/$$i $(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include/ ; \
+		cp -a $(@D)/$$i $(STAGING_DIR)/usr/include/ || exit 1 ; \
 	done; \
 	$(INSTALL) -D $(@D)/libjim.$(JIMTCL_LIB) $(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/libjim.$(JIMTCL_LIB);
 	ln -s libjim.$(JIMTCL_LIB) $(STAGING_DIR)/usr/lib/libjim.so