Meaning of the word "a stumble may prevent a fall" in English

What does "a stumble may prevent a fall" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

a stumble may prevent a fall

US /ə ˈstʌm.bəl meɪ prɪˈvent ə fɔːl/
UK /ə ˈstʌm.bəl meɪ prɪˈvent ə fɔːl/
"a stumble may prevent a fall" picture

Idiom

a small mistake or minor problem early on can alert you to a bigger danger and help you avoid a more serious failure

Example:
Losing that small contract was a wake-up call; as they say, a stumble may prevent a fall.
I'm glad we caught the error now; a stumble may prevent a fall later in the project.