diff --git a/test/docker/base/run_test_wrapper.sh b/test/docker/base/run_test_wrapper.sh
index 9759cf34c4f..0fc6536b596 100644
--- a/test/docker/base/run_test_wrapper.sh
+++ b/test/docker/base/run_test_wrapper.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ cd /galaxy
 GALAXY_CONFIG_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_CONNECTION="$GALAXY_TEST_DBURI";
 export GALAXY_CONFIG_OVERRIDE_DATABASE_CONNECTION
 
-./scripts/common_startup.sh
+./scripts/common_startup.sh || { echo "common_startup.sh failed"; exit 1; }
 
 dev_requirements=./lib/galaxy/dependencies/dev-requirements.txt
 [ -f $dev_requirements ] && ./.venv/bin/pip install -r $dev_requirements