diff --git a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/build.py b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/build.py
index 2ac3e6a..432c3ac 100644
--- a/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/build.py
+++ b/src/ci_orchestrator/commands/build.py
@@ -98,6 +98,25 @@ def _sh_quote(value: str) -> str:
     return shlex.quote(value)
 
 
+def _report_build_output(stdout: str, stderr: str) -> str:
+    """Emit guest build stdout/stderr to the CI log, flushed.
+
+    Returns the last few lines for the failure message so the cause is
+    visible even if stream buffering hides the body on a non-zero exit.
+    """
+    click.echo("[build run] ----- build output -----")
+    if stdout:
+        sys.stdout.write(stdout if stdout.endswith("\n") else stdout + "\n")
+        sys.stdout.flush()
+    if stderr:
+        sys.stderr.write(stderr if stderr.endswith("\n") else stderr + "\n")
+        sys.stderr.flush()
+    click.echo("[build run] ----- end build output -----")
+    combined = (stderr or "").strip() or (stdout or "").strip()
+    lines = combined.splitlines()
+    return " | ".join(lines[-5:]) if lines else "(no build output)"
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------- Linux flow
 
 
@@ -173,14 +192,10 @@ def _linux_build(
         full_cmd = f"{env_prefix}cd {_sh_quote(workdir)} && {cmd}"
         click.echo(f"[build run] running build (env vars redacted): cd {workdir} && {cmd}")
         result = t.run(full_cmd, check=False)
-        # Stream guest stdout/stderr after the fact (paramiko buffers the channel).
-        if result.stdout:
-            sys.stdout.write(result.stdout)
-        if result.stderr:
-            sys.stderr.write(result.stderr)
+        tail = _report_build_output(result.stdout, result.stderr)
         if result.returncode != 0:
             raise click.ClickException(
-                f"build command failed (exit {result.returncode})"
+                f"build command failed (exit {result.returncode}): {tail}"
             )
 
         if skip_artifact:
@@ -333,13 +348,10 @@ def _windows_build(
             "if ($null -eq $LASTEXITCODE) { exit 0 } else { exit $LASTEXITCODE }"
         )
         result = t.run(full_ps, check=False)
-        if result.stdout:
-            sys.stdout.write(result.stdout)
-        if result.stderr:
-            sys.stderr.write(result.stderr)
+        tail = _report_build_output(result.stdout, result.stderr)
         if result.returncode != 0:
             raise click.ClickException(
-                f"build command failed (exit {result.returncode})"
+                f"build command failed (exit {result.returncode}): {tail}"
             )
 
         if skip_artifact: