diff --git a/schutzbot/update_github_status.sh b/schutzbot/update_github_status.sh
index 79d42cdf..660f9e00 100755
--- a/schutzbot/update_github_status.sh
+++ b/schutzbot/update_github_status.sh
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ elif [[ $1 == "update" ]]; then
   else
     exit 0
   fi
+elif [[ $1 == "fail" ]]; then
+    GITHUB_NEW_STATE="failure"
+    GITHUB_NEW_DESC="I'm sorry, something is odd about this commit."
 else
   echo "unknown command"
   exit 1