diff --git a/debian/linux-base.postinst b/debian/linux-base.postinst
index f133f162d..00911f467 100644
--- a/debian/linux-base.postinst
+++ b/debian/linux-base.postinst
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ sub scan_config_files {
 	    if ($! == POSIX::ENOENT) {
 		next;
 	    }
-	    die $!;
+	    die "$!";
 	}
 
 	# Are any of the related packages wanted or installed?
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ sub scan_config_files {
 			installed => $installed};
     }
 
-    my $fstab = new FileHandle('/etc/fstab', 'r');
+    my $fstab = new FileHandle('/etc/fstab', 'r') or die "$!";
     while (1) {
 	my ($text, $bdev, $path, $type) = fstab_next($fstab);
 	last unless defined($text);