diff --git a/src/fixit/cli.py b/src/fixit/cli.py
index efe37565..bcdfb998 100644
--- a/src/fixit/cli.py
+++ b/src/fixit/cli.py
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ def validate_rules(rules: List[str], path: Path) -> None:
                     for _ in find_rules(qualified_rule):
                         pass
                 except Exception as e:
+                    nonlocal exception_raised
                     exception_raised = True
                     pprint(
                         f"Failed to parse rule `{rule}`: {e.__class__.__name__}: {e}"