diff --git a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/CommandExchange.scala b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/CommandExchange.scala
index f7ae9f19f..3be85d4e8 100644
--- a/main/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/CommandExchange.scala
+++ b/main/src/main/scala/sbt/internal/CommandExchange.scala
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ private[sbt] final class CommandExchange {
               }
             case _ => exec
           }
+        case Some(e) => e
         case None =>
           val newDeadline = if (gcDeadline.fold(false)(_.isOverdue())) {
             GCUtil.forceGcWithInterval(interval, logger)