diff --git a/make_db b/make_db
index dee06fe57f5b11bfaaaf473452fc758d18f544b3..b80fd0d593bec7e66d7de9f5b3a6d248a0ea42ad 100755
--- a/make_db
+++ b/make_db
@@ -23,10 +23,11 @@
 # ** end header
 
 # To fail fast, but beware https://mywiki.wooledge.org/BashFAQ/105
-set -e
 
 source utils/load_settings.sh
 
+set -e
+
 function fail() {
   echo "Some error occured, exiting."
   exit 1
diff --git a/patches/applyPatches.sh b/patches/applyPatches.sh
index 660d8da55b15188302bdb1bab33b7ae4368bb578..0b1aced9820a6288e6104e0fcab3cce8e3dd2e8b 100755
--- a/patches/applyPatches.sh
+++ b/patches/applyPatches.sh
@@ -25,10 +25,10 @@
 #
 
 #apply all available patches.
-set -e
 PATCHES="./patch*/patch.sh"
-
 . $UTILSPATH/helpers.sh
+
+set -e
 for p in $PATCHES
 do
     $p "$@" --patch=$p