diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 773160b02..2f6644c25 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ matrix:
   - os: linux
     dist: xenial
     compiler: gcc
-    env: MAKE_TARGET=format-verify PATH="/usr/lib/llvm-8/bin:$PATH"
+    env: MAKE_TARGET=format-verify PATH="/usr/lib/llvm-7/bin:$PATH"
     addons:
       apt:
         sources:
-          - llvm-toolchain-xenial-8
+          - llvm-toolchain-xenial-7
         packages:
-          - clang-format-8
+          - clang-format-7
   - os: linux
     dist: xenial
     compiler: gcc
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 062193c17..274d530e0 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -244,7 +244,9 @@ format:
 	clang-format -i $$(find jni daemon llarp include libabyss | grep -E '\.[h,c](pp)?$$')
 
 format-verify: format
-	git diff --quiet || echo 'Please run make format!!' && git --no-pager diff && false
+	(type clang-format)
+	clang-format --version
+	git diff --quiet || (echo 'Please run make format!!' && git --no-pager diff ; exit 1)
 
 analyze-config: clean
 	mkdir -p '$(BUILD_ROOT)'