diff --git a/scripts/lib/devtool/standard.py b/scripts/lib/devtool/standard.py
index 84fa19c7aa..1f6ae1d931 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/devtool/standard.py
+++ b/scripts/lib/devtool/standard.py
@@ -847,6 +847,9 @@ def modify(args, config, basepath, workspace):
                 task = 'do_configure'
                 target = _get_multiconfig_targets(rd, pn)
                 res = tinfoil.build_targets(target, task, handle_events=True)
+                if not res:
+                    raise DevtoolError('Configuring source for %s failed' %
+                                       target)
 
                 # Copy .config to workspace
                 kconfpath = rd.getVar('B')