diff --git a/scripts/install-for-ci.sh b/scripts/install-for-ci.sh
index fb7bcad..0664043 100644
--- a/scripts/install-for-ci.sh
+++ b/scripts/install-for-ci.sh
@@ -34,14 +34,15 @@ log () {
 fetch () {
     echo "Downloading $1..."
     if curl --no-progress-bar --retry 10 --connect-timeout 30 \
-           --max-time 300 -o "$2" -L "$1" 2>&1; then
+            --max-time 300 -o "$2" -L "$1" 2>&1; then
         echo "✓ Successfully downloaded $1"
         return 0
     else
+        code=$?  # capture curl's exit code immediately
         echo "✗ Failed to download $1"
         echo "  URL: $1"
         echo "  Destination: $2" 
-        echo "  Curl exit code: $?"
+        echo "  Curl exit code: $code"
         exit 1
     fi
 }