diff --git a/hack/verify-gofmt.sh b/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
index b848b1eb959..02c07b4ab9f 100755
--- a/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-gofmt.sh
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ find_files() {
     \) -name '*.go'
 }
 
-GOFMT="gofmt -s"
+GOFMT="gofmt -s -w"
 bad_files=$(find_files | xargs $GOFMT -l)
 if [[ -n "${bad_files}" ]]; then
   echo "!!! '$GOFMT' needs to be run on the following files: "