diff --git a/cmd/crane/cmd/push.go b/cmd/crane/cmd/push.go
index cfd9f98b1..05eedf16f 100644
--- a/cmd/crane/cmd/push.go
+++ b/cmd/crane/cmd/push.go
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ func NewCmdPush(options *[]crane.Option) *cobra.Command {
 
 			digest := ref.Context().Digest(h.String())
 			if imageRefs != "" {
-				return os.WriteFile(imageRefs, []byte(digest.String()), 0600)
+				if err := os.WriteFile(imageRefs, []byte(digest.String()), 0600); err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("failed to write image refs to %s: %w", imageRefs, err)
+				}
 			}
 
 			// Print the digest of the pushed image to stdout to facilitate command composition.