diff --git a/action.go b/action.go
index 48eb6f96..b39fbf51 100644
--- a/action.go
+++ b/action.go
@@ -54,6 +54,17 @@ func (c *DebosContext) Origin(o string) (string, bool) {
   }
 }
 
+func HandleError(context *DebosContext, err error, a Action, stage string) bool {
+	if err == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	context.State = Failed
+	log.Printf("Action `%s` failed at stage %s, error: %s", a, stage, err)
+	DebugShell(*context)
+	return true
+}
+
 type Action interface {
 	/* FIXME verify should probably be prepare or somesuch */
 	Verify(context *DebosContext) error
diff --git a/cmd/debos/debos.go b/cmd/debos/debos.go
index b4e371c1..9eea5ef1 100644
--- a/cmd/debos/debos.go
+++ b/cmd/debos/debos.go
@@ -15,17 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jessevdk/go-flags"
 )
 
-func handleError(context *debos.DebosContext, err error, a debos.Action, stage string) bool {
-	if err == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-
-	context.State = debos.Failed
-	log.Printf("Action `%s` failed at stage %s, error: %s", a, stage, err)
-	debos.DebugShell(*context)
-	return true
-}
-
 func do_run(r actions.Recipe, context *debos.DebosContext) (success bool) {
 	for _, a := range r.Actions {
 		err := a.Run(context)
@@ -36,13 +25,13 @@ func do_run(r actions.Recipe, context *debos.DebosContext) (success bool) {
 		defer func(action debos.Action) {
 			err := action.Cleanup(context)
 
-			if handleError(context, err, action, "Cleanup") {
+			if debos.HandleError(context, err, action, "Cleanup") {
 				success = false
 			}
 		}(a)
 
 		// Check the state of Run method
-		if handleError(context, err, a, "Run") {
+		if debos.HandleError(context, err, a, "Run") {
 			return false
 		}
 	}
@@ -240,7 +229,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	for _, a := range r.Actions {
 		err = a.Verify(&context)
-		if handleError(&context, err, a, "Verify") {
+		if debos.HandleError(&context, err, a, "Verify") {
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -318,11 +307,11 @@ func main() {
 				err := action.PostMachineCleanup(&context)
 
 				// report errors but do not stop execution
-				handleError(&context, err, action, "PostMachineCleanup")
+				debos.HandleError(&context, err, action, "PostMachineCleanup")
 			}(a)
 
 			err = a.PreMachine(&context, m, &args)
-			if handleError(&context, err, a, "PreMachine") {
+			if debos.HandleError(&context, err, a, "PreMachine") {
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -342,7 +331,7 @@ func main() {
 
 		for _, a := range r.Actions {
 			err = a.PostMachine(&context)
-			if handleError(&context, err, a, "PostMachine") {
+			if debos.HandleError(&context, err, a, "PostMachine") {
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -358,11 +347,11 @@ func main() {
 				err := action.PostMachineCleanup(&context)
 
 				// report errors but do not stop execution
-				handleError(&context, err, action, "PostMachineCleanup")
+				debos.HandleError(&context, err, action, "PostMachineCleanup")
 			}(a)
 
 			err = a.PreNoMachine(&context)
-			if handleError(&context, err, a, "PreNoMachine") {
+			if debos.HandleError(&context, err, a, "PreNoMachine") {
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -385,7 +374,7 @@ func main() {
 	if !fakemachine.InMachine() {
 		for _, a := range r.Actions {
 			err = a.PostMachine(&context)
-			if handleError(&context, err, a, "PostMachine") {
+			if exitcode = debos.HandleError(&context, err, a, "PostMachine"); exitcode != 0 {
 				return
 			}
 		}