diff --git a/asset_jenkins.js b/asset_jenkins.js
index 4ada885..f74bfe5 100644
--- a/asset_jenkins.js
+++ b/asset_jenkins.js
@@ -48,4 +48,8 @@ if (fs.existsSync ('README.md')) {
   }
   else { child_process.execSync ('yarn publish --access public'); }
 }
+else {
+  console.log ('readme does not exist');
+  process.exit (1);
+}
 `;
diff --git a/jenkins.js b/jenkins.js
index 031f8d8..d0f8ea8 100644
--- a/jenkins.js
+++ b/jenkins.js
@@ -39,3 +39,7 @@ if (fs.existsSync ('README.md')) {
   }
   else { child_process.execSync ('yarn publish --access public'); }
 }
+else {
+  console.log ('readme does not exist');
+  process.exit (1);
+}