diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 8909556590a31b772ce86a08599163cc6fe9e802..7815b8de4985e8dd375cf22f91b992a59a63efd7 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ verify-dco:
         $(git log --format="%b" -1 ${c} | grep -q "^Signed-off-by: .* <.*@.*>") && rc="$?" || rc="$?"
         if [[ rc -eq 1 ]]; then
           echo "Commit ${c} failed DCO Signed-off-by check"
+          exit ${rc}
         fi
       done
     fi