diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 8471ca7..d4fdb8e 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -624,8 +624,7 @@ const ZiglingStep = struct {
 
         const argv = [_][]const u8{exe_file};
 
-        const child = std.ChildProcess.init(&argv, self.builder.allocator) catch unreachable;
-        defer child.deinit();
+        var child = std.ChildProcess.init(&argv, self.builder.allocator);
 
         child.cwd = cwd;
         child.env_map = self.builder.env_map;