diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 7bd23774..e504d301 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -52,4 +52,4 @@ formatting-check:
   image: poezio/test-base:latest
   script:
     - pip3 install yapf
-    - [ -n "$(yapf -dpr poezio)" ] && echo "yapf check failure" && exit 1
+    - "[ -n \"$(yapf -dpr poezio)\" ] && echo 'Formatting check failed, please run yapf' && exit 1 || echo 'Formatting check succeeded'"