diff --git a/egs2/owsm_v1/s2t1/local/data.sh b/egs2/owsm_v1/s2t1/local/data.sh
index 629fe56354f..08b1419d83b 100755
--- a/egs2/owsm_v1/s2t1/local/data.sh
+++ b/egs2/owsm_v1/s2t1/local/data.sh
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ if [ ${stage} -le 1 ] && [ ${stop_stage} -ge 1 ]; then
             fi
             echo "preparing ${dataset} dataset ..."
             ./local/prepare_${dataset}.sh || \
-                echo "preparing ${dataset} failed" && exit 1;
+                { echo "preparing ${dataset} failed" && exit 1; }
             touch data/.${dataset}.done
         fi
     done