diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.sh b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.sh
index b5447b197..f2ff61f4f 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.sh
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
+# exit on error
 set -e
+# print commands
+set -v
 
 ARTIQ_PREFIX=$(python3 -c "import artiq; print(artiq.__path__[0])")