diff --git a/lib/rscons/application.rb b/lib/rscons/application.rb
index b476fc4..8ea59e1 100644
--- a/lib/rscons/application.rb
+++ b/lib/rscons/application.rb
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ module Rscons
           end
           if rv == 0
             build(operation_options)
+          else
+            rv
           end
         when "clean"
           clean
diff --git a/spec/build_tests_spec.rb b/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
index c859b34..fe4a745 100644
--- a/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/build_tests_spec.rb
@@ -2257,6 +2257,7 @@ EOF
       result = run_rscons(rsconscript: "autoconf_fail.rb")
       expect(result.stdout).to match /Checking for C compiler\.\.\. not found/
       expect(result.status).to_not eq 0
+      expect(result.stderr).to_not match /from\s/
     end
 
     it "exits with an error if configuration has not been performed before attempting to create an environment" do