diff --git a/makechrootpkg.in b/makechrootpkg.in
index d81be84..419e495 100644
--- a/makechrootpkg.in
+++ b/makechrootpkg.in
@@ -145,8 +145,10 @@ install_packages() {
 	local ret
 
 	pkgnames=("${install_pkgs[@]##*/}")
-
-	cp -- "${install_pkgs[@]}" "$copydir/root/"
+	if ! cp -- "${install_pkgs[@]}" "$copydir/root/"; then
+	    error "Cannot copy packages"
+	    return 1
+	fi
 	arch-nspawn "$copydir" "${bindmounts_ro[@]}" "${bindmounts_rw[@]}" \
 		pacman -U --noconfirm -- "${pkgnames[@]/#//root/}"
 	ret=$?