diff --git a/bin/build-helper b/bin/build-helper
index 033d4ff7..75b8c16a 100755
--- a/bin/build-helper
+++ b/bin/build-helper
@@ -198,8 +198,12 @@ eof
         # Generate version file to be included in packaging
         "$0" version
 
+        set -x
+        pwd
+        git diff-index --exit-code --quiet HEAD
+        ret=$?
         # Ensure the git status is clean, else abort
-        if ! git diff-index --exit-code --quiet HEAD; then
+        if [ "$ret" -ne 0 ]; then
             echo "Unclean tree, aborting"
             exit 1
         fi