diff --git a/util/abuild/abuild b/util/abuild/abuild
index 2f6d497267..a73fdb8ccb 100755
--- a/util/abuild/abuild
+++ b/util/abuild/abuild
@@ -254,6 +254,7 @@ function compile_target
 		junit "<failure type='BuildFailed'>"
 		junitfile make.log
 		junit "</failure>"
+		printf "failed\n" > compile.status
 		printf "$VENDOR/$MAINBOARD build FAILED after ${duration}s!\nLog excerpt:\n"
 		tail -n $CONTEXT make.log 2> /dev/null || tail -$CONTEXT make.log
 		failed=1