diff --git a/drivers/google/compute_util.go b/drivers/google/compute_util.go
index 5bde1fd83..7883a4c5e 100644
--- a/drivers/google/compute_util.go
+++ b/drivers/google/compute_util.go
@@ -597,6 +597,9 @@ func (c *ComputeUtil) uploadSSHKeyAndUserdata(instance *raw.Instance, sshKeyPath
 	}
 
 	op, err := c.service.Instances.SetMetadata(c.project, c.zone, c.instanceName, metadata).Do()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 
 	return c.waitForRegionalOp(op.Name)
 }