diff --git a/v2/test/build_dir.py b/v2/test/build_dir.py
index ad5327979..c5bcbc5b9 100644
--- a/v2/test/build_dir.py
+++ b/v2/test/build_dir.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ exe a : a.cpp ;
 build-project sub ;
 """ % string.replace(os.getcwd(), '\\', '\\\\'))
 
-t.run_build_system("--build-dir=build")
+t.run_build_system("--build-dir=build", status=1)
 t.fail_test(string.find(t.stdout(),
     "Absolute directory specified via 'build-dir' project attribute") == -1)