diff --git a/lib/std/special/start.zig b/lib/std/special/start.zig
index 7738c00d1a..5c4d77b694 100644
--- a/lib/std/special/start.zig
+++ b/lib/std/special/start.zig
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ inline fn initEventLoopAndCallMain() u8 {
             defer loop.deinit();
 
             var result: u8 = undefined;
-            var frame: @Frame(callMain) = undefined;
-            _ = @asyncCall(&frame, &result, callMain);
+            var frame: @Frame(callMainAsync) = undefined;
+            _ = @asyncCall(&frame, &result, callMainAsync, loop);
             loop.run();
             return result;
         }
@@ -214,6 +214,13 @@ inline fn initEventLoopAndCallMain() u8 {
     return @inlineCall(callMain);
 }
 
+fn callMainAsync(loop: *std.event.Loop) u8 {
+    // This prevents the event loop from terminating at least until main() has returned.
+    loop.beginOneEvent();
+    defer loop.finishOneEvent();
+    return callMain();
+}
+
 // This is not marked inline because it is called with @asyncCall when
 // there is an event loop.
 fn callMain() u8 {