diff --git a/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh b/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
--- a/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
+++ b/release/scripts/mk-vmimage.sh
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@
 		. "${VMCONFIG}"
 	fi
 
+	set -e
+
 	vm_create_base
 	vm_install_base
 	vm_extra_install_base
diff --git a/release/tools/vmimage.subr b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
--- a/release/tools/vmimage.subr
+++ b/release/tools/vmimage.subr
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@
 
 	mkdir -p ${DESTDIR}/dev
 	mount -t devfs devfs ${DESTDIR}/dev
-	chroot ${DESTDIR} ${EMULATOR} /usr/bin/newaliases
-	chroot ${DESTDIR} ${EMULATOR} /bin/sh /etc/rc.d/ldconfig forcestart
+	chroot ${DESTDIR} ${EMULATOR} /usr/bin/newaliases || :
+	chroot ${DESTDIR} ${EMULATOR} /bin/sh /etc/rc.d/ldconfig forcestart || :
 	umount_loop ${DESTDIR}/dev
 
 	cp /etc/resolv.conf ${DESTDIR}/etc/resolv.conf