diff --git a/.github/workflows/main.yml b/.github/workflows/main.yml
index a5b6b8f9af6..415defebb5e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/main.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/main.yml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Check style
         env:
+          CSTYLE_FAIL_IF_CLANG_FORMAT_MISSING: 1
           NDCTL_ENABLE: n # just to speed up the job
         run: make -j$(nproc) cstyle
 
diff --git a/utils/style_check.sh b/utils/style_check.sh
index 681a09160fe..34f5688fd7a 100755
--- a/utils/style_check.sh
+++ b/utils/style_check.sh
@@ -37,8 +37,14 @@ function check_clang_version() {
 	grep "version 14\.0"\
 	&> /dev/null
 	if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
-		echo "SKIP: requires clang-format version==14.0"
-		exit 0
+		MSG="requires clang-format version==14.0"
+		if [ "x$CSTYLE_FAIL_IF_CLANG_FORMAT_MISSING" == "x1" ]; then
+			echo "FAIL: $MSG"
+			exit 1
+		else
+			echo "SKIP: $MSG"
+			exit 0
+		fi
 	fi
 	set -e
 }