diff --git a/hack/build_release_images.sh b/hack/build_release_images.sh
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 09d20cd7..d6ab04ab
--- a/hack/build_release_images.sh
+++ b/hack/build_release_images.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ archs=(amd64)
 oses=(darwin windows linux)
 
 REL_VER=$(git describe --tags --abbrev=0 | sed "s/v//")
+if [[ -z "$REL_VER" ]]; then
+    echo "Failed to determine release version" 1>&2
+    exit 1
+fi
 mkdir -p releases
 
 build_release() {