diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 84daaef4e..38a623642 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -5043,7 +5043,10 @@ async fn shell_impl_async(
             log::error!("Shell error: {}", err);
             bail!("Shell error: {}", err);
         }
-        bail!("Shell command failed");
+        match output.status.code() {
+            Some(exit_code) => bail!("Shell command failed: status {}", exit_code),
+            None => bail!("Shell command failed"),
+        }
     } else if !output.stderr.is_empty() {
         log::debug!(
             "Command printed to stderr: {}",