diff --git a/ci.sh b/ci.sh
index ef88cb087..d9539ce45 100755
--- a/ci.sh
+++ b/ci.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-set -e
 
 # only execute this script as part of the pipeline.
-[ -z $CI ] && exit 1
+[ -z $CI ] && echo "missing ci enviornment variable" && exit 2
 
 # only execute the script when github token exists.
-[ -z $SSH_KEY ] && exit 1
+[ -z $SSH_KEY ] && echo "missing ssh key" && exit 3
 
 # write a netrc file for authorization.
 mkdir /root/.ssh
@@ -13,7 +12,8 @@ echo -n "$SSH_KEY" > /root/.ssh/id_rsa
 chmod 600 /root/.ssh/id_rsa
 
 # clone the extras project.
-set +x
+set -e
+set -x
 git clone git@github.com:drone/drone-enterprise.git extras
 
 # build a static binary with the build number and extra features.