diff --git a/runtime/js/40_process.js b/runtime/js/40_process.js
index 1ee76f5204..ad6c57ad35 100644
--- a/runtime/js/40_process.js
+++ b/runtime/js/40_process.js
@@ -299,17 +299,16 @@ class ChildProcess {
     try {
       const onAbort = () => this.kill("SIGTERM");
       signal?.[abortSignal.add](onAbort);
+      const waitPromise = op_spawn_wait(this.#rid);
+      this.#waitPromise = waitPromise;
+      this.#status = PromisePrototypeThen(waitPromise, (res) => {
+        signal?.[abortSignal.remove](onAbort);
+        this.#waitComplete = true;
+        return res;
+      });
     } catch (e) {
       void e;
     }
-
-    const waitPromise = op_spawn_wait(this.#rid);
-    this.#waitPromise = waitPromise;
-    this.#status = PromisePrototypeThen(waitPromise, (res) => {
-      signal?.[abortSignal.remove](onAbort);
-      this.#waitComplete = true;
-      return res;
-    });
   }
 
   #status;