diff --git a/tools/buildman/control.py b/tools/buildman/control.py
index 5fcfba7..a98d1b4 100644
--- a/tools/buildman/control.py
+++ b/tools/buildman/control.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
     return None
 
 def DoBuildman(options, args, toolchains=None, make_func=None, boards=None,
-               clean_dir=False):
+               clean_dir=False, test_thread_exceptions=False):
     """The main control code for buildman
 
     Args:
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@
                 boards. If this is None it will be created and scanned.
         clean_dir: Used for tests only, indicates that the existing output_dir
             should be removed before starting the build
+        test_thread_exceptions: Uses for tests only, True to make the threads
+            raise an exception instead of reporting their result. This simulates
+            a failure in the code somewhere
     """
     global builder
 
@@ -330,7 +333,8 @@
             config_only=options.config_only,
             squash_config_y=not options.preserve_config_y,
             warnings_as_errors=options.warnings_as_errors,
-            work_in_output=options.work_in_output)
+            work_in_output=options.work_in_output,
+            test_thread_exceptions=test_thread_exceptions)
     builder.force_config_on_failure = not options.quick
     if make_func:
         builder.do_make = make_func
@@ -370,9 +374,11 @@
         if options.summary:
             builder.ShowSummary(commits, board_selected)
         else:
-            fail, warned = builder.BuildBoards(commits, board_selected,
-                                options.keep_outputs, options.verbose)
-            if fail:
+            fail, warned, excs = builder.BuildBoards(
+                commits, board_selected, options.keep_outputs, options.verbose)
+            if excs:
+                return 102
+            elif fail:
                 return 100
             elif warned and not options.ignore_warnings:
                 return 101