diff --git a/certbotd.sh b/certbotd.sh
index b8ca6ba..25dbf44 100755
--- a/certbotd.sh
+++ b/certbotd.sh
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
+lock=/tmp/certbot.lck
+updated=/tmp/certbot.updated
+failed=/tmp/certbot.failed
+domains=/tmp/domains
+
 ok() {
   echo "ok - $@" >&2
 }
 
 not_ok() {
   echo "not ok - $@" >&2
+  touch "${failed}"
 }
 
 domain_configured() {
@@ -21,11 +27,6 @@ if test -z "${NODES}" && test -z "${SINGLE_NODE}"; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-lock=/tmp/certbot.lck
-updated=/tmp/certbot.updated
-failed=/tmp/certbot.failed
-domains=/tmp/domains
-
 ensure() {
   test -n "$1" && ok "$1 received, exiting gracefully..."