diff --git a/pkgs/deploy.nix b/pkgs/deploy.nix
index ddda085..3dc2d5e 100644
--- a/pkgs/deploy.nix
+++ b/pkgs/deploy.nix
@@ -102,8 +102,10 @@
         store_path="''${TOPLEVEL_STORE_PATHS["$host"]}"
         echo "    Applying ⚙️ $host"
         prev_system=$(ssh "$host" -- readlink -e /nix/var/nix/profiles/system)
-        ssh "$host" -- /run/current-system/sw/bin/nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --set "$store_path"
-        ssh "$host" -- "$store_path"/bin/switch-to-configuration "$ACTION"
+        ssh "$host" -- /run/current-system/sw/bin/nix-env --profile /nix/var/nix/profiles/system --set "$store_path" \
+          || die "Failed to set system profile"
+        ssh "$host" -- "$store_path"/bin/switch-to-configuration "$ACTION" \
+          || echo "Error while activating new system" >&2
         if [[ -n "$prev_system" ]]; then
           ssh "$host" -- nvd --color always diff "$prev_system" "$store_path"
         fi