diff --git a/guix/build/lisp-utils.scm b/guix/build/lisp-utils.scm
index 9cf479dac5..7c0a68ca97 100644
--- a/guix/build/lisp-utils.scm
+++ b/guix/build/lisp-utils.scm
@@ -121,8 +121,7 @@ (define (lisp-eval-program program)
   "Evaluate PROGRAM with a given LISP implementation."
   (define invocation (lisp-invocation program))
   (format #t "Invoking ~a: ~{~s ~}~%" (%lisp-type) invocation)
-  (unless (zero? (apply system* invocation))
-    (error "lisp-eval-program failed!" invocation)))
+  (apply invoke invocation))
 
 (define (spread-statements program argument-name)
   "Return a list with the statements from PROGRAM spread between