diff --git a/examples/chef/chef.py b/examples/chef/chef.py
index 1ae55d683b510b..dfeaaff8797ac0 100755
--- a/examples/chef/chef.py
+++ b/examples/chef/chef.py
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str]) -> None:
         flush_print(f"cached zap commit {cached_zap}")
         if current_zap != cached_zap:
             flush_print(f"BAD ZAP VERSION: {fix_instructions}")
+            exit(1)
         flush_print("Cached ZAP output is up to date!")
         exit(0)