diff --git a/src/cmd/api/goapi.go b/src/cmd/api/goapi.go
index 7102e9d409..320474368f 100644
--- a/src/cmd/api/goapi.go
+++ b/src/cmd/api/goapi.go
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ func setContexts() {
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 
+	panic("yes, the api checks are really running")
+
 	if !strings.Contains(runtime.Version(), "weekly") && !strings.Contains(runtime.Version(), "devel") {
 		if *nextFile != "" {
 			fmt.Printf("Go version is %q, ignoring -next %s\n", runtime.Version(), *nextFile)