diff --git a/builder.py b/builder.py
index 83211fc..7215ba8 100644
--- a/builder.py
+++ b/builder.py
@@ -261,7 +261,9 @@ class BuildJob:
                     if e.errno == errno.ENOENT:
                         unlink(t)
                     else:
-                        raise
+                        err('%s: can\'t save stdout to %r: %s\n' %
+                            (self.argv[2], t, e.strerror))
+                        rv = 1000
                 if st2:
                     os.unlink(self.tmpname2)
             else: # no output generated at all; that's ok
@@ -288,7 +290,7 @@ class BuildJob:
         sf.save()
         f.close()
         if rv != 0:
-            err('%s: exit code %d\n' % (_nice(t),rv))
+            err('%s: exit code %r\n' % (_nice(t),rv))
         else:
             if vars.VERBOSE or vars.XTRACE or vars.DEBUG:
                 log('%s (done)\n\n' % _nice(t))