diff --git a/hack/verify-golint.sh b/hack/verify-golint.sh
index 3f365cbeb7d..79508a9adb3 100755
--- a/hack/verify-golint.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-golint.sh
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ else
     echo 'checking by adding it to hack/.golint_failures (if your reviewer is okay with it).'
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 if [[ ${#not_failing[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ if [[ ${#not_failing[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     done
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 if [[ ${#gone[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
@@ -118,5 +118,5 @@ if [[ ${#gone[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     done
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi
diff --git a/hack/verify-shellcheck.sh b/hack/verify-shellcheck.sh
index 7b2e4372fce..c948d4520a2 100755
--- a/hack/verify-shellcheck.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-shellcheck.sh
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ else
     echo 'checking by adding it to hack/.shellcheck_failures (if your reviewer is okay with it).'
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 if [[ ${#not_failing[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ if [[ ${#not_failing[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     done
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi
 
 # Check that all failing_packages actually still exist
@@ -199,5 +199,5 @@ if [[ ${#gone[@]} -gt 0 ]]; then
     done
     echo
   } >&2
-  false
+  exit 1
 fi