diff --git a/autobuild.sh b/autobuild.sh
index 3379be47f1..c52747938a 100755
--- a/autobuild.sh
+++ b/autobuild.sh
@@ -35,9 +35,14 @@ esac
 make
 make install
 
-set -o pipefail
-make check 2>&1 | tee "$RESULTS"
-make syntax-check 2>&1 | tee -a "$RESULTS"
+# set -o pipefail is a bashism; this use of exec is the POSIX alternative
+exec 3>&1
+st=$(
+  exec 4>&1 >&3
+  { make check syntax-check 2>&1; echo $? >&4; } | tee "$RESULTS"
+)
+exec 3>&-
+test $st = 0
 test -x /usr/bin/lcov && make cov
 
 rm -f *.tar.gz