diff --git a/tools/build_addons.py b/tools/build_addons.py
index b8e36078d236cb..e985d6f67a4625 100755
--- a/tools/build_addons.py
+++ b/tools/build_addons.py
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ def node_gyp_rebuild(test_dir):
 
       # We buffer the output and print it out once the process is done in order
       # to avoid interleaved output from multiple builds running at once.
-      return_code = process.wait()
       stdout, stderr = process.communicate()
+      return_code = process.returncode
       if return_code != 0:
         print(f'Failed to build addon in {test_dir}:')
         if stdout: