diff --git a/ci/run_ci.py b/ci/run_ci.py
index 9257b7de..93eafa2f 100644
--- a/ci/run_ci.py
+++ b/ci/run_ci.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ def report_status(name, start_time, exit=None):
         response_code = e.getcode()
         response_data = e.read()
         print(f"{response_code} failed to update status {name}: {response_data}")
+        global global_fail
         global_fail = True
 
 def run_job(data):
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ def main():
         print("job failed!")
         traceback.format_exc()
 
+    global global_fail
     if global_fail:
         ok = False
 
diff --git a/ci/spawn_jobs.py b/ci/spawn_jobs.py
index 158a3f42..92e7144d 100755
--- a/ci/spawn_jobs.py
+++ b/ci/spawn_jobs.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ def spawn_job(name):
         response_code = e.getcode()
         response_data = e.read()
         print(f"{response_code} failed to spawn job {name}: {response_data}")
+        global global_fail
         global_fail = True
 
 def create_jobs():
@@ -103,7 +104,8 @@ def create_jobs():
     if len(jobs) == 0:
         print("no jobs to run (??)")
 
-    return 0 if not global_fail else 1
+    global global_fail
+    return 1 if global_fail else 0
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     print("hello from python!")