diff --git a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2 b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
index 1216013e63c2..e1873851c9c4 100644
--- a/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
+++ b/files/build_templates/docker_image_ctl.j2
@@ -78,7 +78,10 @@ start() {
 {%- endif %}
         --tmpfs /tmp \
         --tmpfs /var/tmp \
-        --name={{docker_container_name}} {{docker_image_name}}:latest
+        --name={{docker_container_name}} {{docker_image_name}}:latest || {
+            echo "Failed to docker run" >&1
+            exit 4
+    }
 
     postStartAction
 }