diff --git a/std/special/build_runner.zig b/std/special/build_runner.zig
index 4ce6f7115e91..56cfe3bcb574 100644
--- a/std/special/build_runner.zig
+++ b/std/special/build_runner.zig
@@ -200,9 +200,9 @@ fn usage(builder: *Builder, already_ran_build: bool, out_stream: var) !void {
     );
 }
 
-fn usageAndErr(builder: *Builder, already_ran_build: bool, out_stream: var) anyerror {
+fn usageAndErr(builder: *Builder, already_ran_build: bool, out_stream: var) void {
     usage(builder, already_ran_build, out_stream) catch {};
-    return error.InvalidArgs;
+    os.exit(1);
 }
 
 const UnwrapArgError = error{OutOfMemory};