diff --git a/crates/cuddle-please-misc/src/git_client.rs b/crates/cuddle-please-misc/src/git_client.rs
index 9512944..06db4df 100644
--- a/crates/cuddle-please-misc/src/git_client.rs
+++ b/crates/cuddle-please-misc/src/git_client.rs
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ impl VcsClient {
                 let stdout = std::str::from_utf8(&checkout_branch.stdout)?;
                 let stderr = std::str::from_utf8(&checkout_branch.stderr)?;
                 tracing::debug!(stdout = stdout, stderr = stderr, "git {}", args.join(" "));
+                let exit_code = checkout_branch.status;
+                if !exit_code.success() {
+                    anyhow::bail!(
+                        "failed to run git command: {}",
+                        exit_code.code().unwrap_or(-1)
+                    )
+                }
             }
         }