diff --git a/ci/lib.sh b/ci/lib.sh
index 1d9aa4b167..ad013e8cbe 100644
--- a/ci/lib.sh
+++ b/ci/lib.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+set -o nounset
+
 export tests_repo="${tests_repo:-github.com/kata-containers/tests}"
 export tests_repo_dir="$GOPATH/src/$tests_repo"
 export branch="${target_branch:-main}"