diff --git a/src/runner.rs b/src/runner.rs
index ff170246..7ce47d48 100644
--- a/src/runner.rs
+++ b/src/runner.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::cli::{BuildArgs, Cli, Commands};
 use crate::{ir::BuildGraph, manifest, ninja_gen};
 use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use serde_json;
+use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::fs;
 use std::io::{self, BufRead, BufReader, Write};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
@@ -114,18 +115,28 @@ fn handle_build(cli: &Cli, args: &BuildArgs) -> Result<()> {
     let ninja = generate_ninja(cli)?;
     let targets = BuildTargets::new(&args.targets);
 
-    // Normalise the build file path and keep the temporary file alive for the
-    // duration of the Ninja invocation.
-    let (build_path, _tmp): (PathBuf, Option<NamedTempFile>) = if let Some(path) = &args.emit {
+    // Normalize the build file path and keep the temporary file alive for the
+    // duration of the Ninja invocation. Borrow the emitted path when provided
+    // to avoid unnecessary allocation.
+    let build_path: Cow<Path>;
+    let mut tmp_file: Option<NamedTempFile> = None;
+    if let Some(path) = &args.emit {
         write_ninja_file(path, &ninja)?;
-        (path.clone(), None)
+        build_path = Cow::Borrowed(path.as_path());
     } else {
         let tmp = create_temp_ninja_file(&ninja)?;
-        (tmp.path().to_path_buf(), Some(tmp))
-    };
+        tmp_file = Some(tmp);
+        build_path = Cow::Borrowed(
+            tmp_file
+                .as_ref()
+                .expect("temporary Ninja file should exist")
+                .path(),
+        );
+    }
 
     let program = resolve_ninja_program();
-    run_ninja(program.as_path(), cli, &build_path, &targets)?;
+    run_ninja(program.as_path(), cli, build_path.as_ref(), &targets)?;
+    drop(tmp_file);
     Ok(())
 }