diff --git a/deep_gemm/jit/compiler.py b/deep_gemm/jit/compiler.py
index 88260b4..0f099d8 100644
--- a/deep_gemm/jit/compiler.py
+++ b/deep_gemm/jit/compiler.py
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ def build(name: str, arg_defs: tuple, code: str) -> Runtime:
                *[f'-I{d}' for d in include_dirs]]
     if os.getenv('DG_JIT_DEBUG', None) or os.getenv('DG_JIT_PRINT_NVCC_COMMAND', False):
         print(f'Compiling JIT runtime {name} with command {command}')
-    assert subprocess.check_call(command) == 0, f'Failed to compile {src_path}'
+    return_code = subprocess.check_call(command)
+    assert return_code == 0, f'Failed to compile {src_path}'
 
     # Interleave FFMA reuse
     if enable_sass_opt: