diff --git a/src/ninja/__init__.py b/src/ninja/__init__.py
index e1feb7a..f83767e 100644
--- a/src/ninja/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ninja/__init__.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 
 
 def _program(name, args):
-    return subprocess.call([os.path.join(BIN_DIR, name)] + args)
+    return subprocess.call([os.path.join(BIN_DIR, name)] + args, close_fds=False)
 
 
 def ninja():