diff --git a/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig b/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
index eb83ef8fcd..bdc2d0457e 100644
--- a/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
+++ b/lib/std/special/build_runner.zig
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ pub fn main() !void {
             error.InvalidStepName => {
                 return usageAndErr(builder, true, stderr_stream);
             },
-            error.UncleanExit => process.exit(1),
+            error.UnexpectedExitCode, error.UncleanExit => process.exit(1),
             else => return err,
         }
     };