diff --git a/build_tools/pexpect_helper.py b/build_tools/pexpect_helper.py
index 68d14ba62..d8c705949 100644
--- a/build_tools/pexpect_helper.py
+++ b/build_tools/pexpect_helper.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import re
 import sys
 import time
 import pexpect
+from signal import Signals
 
 # Default timeout for failing to match.
 TIMEOUT_SECS = 5
@@ -246,8 +247,15 @@ class SpawnedProc(object):
         Report it to stdout, along with the offending call site.
         If 'unmatched' is set, print it to stdout.
         """
+        # Close the process so we can get the status
+        self.spawn.close()
         colors = self.colors()
         failtype = pexpect_error_type(err)
+        # If we get an EOF, we check if the process exited with a signal.
+        # This shows us e.g. if it crashed
+        if failtype == 'EOF' and self.spawn.signalstatus != 0:
+            failtype = "SIGNAL " + Signals(self.spawn.signalstatus).name
+
         fmtkeys = {"failtype": failtype, "pat": escape(pat)}
         fmtkeys.update(**colors)