diff --git a/packages/core/src/tools/shell.ts b/packages/core/src/tools/shell.ts
index c712276187..826370bffc 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/tools/shell.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/tools/shell.ts
@@ -355,6 +355,10 @@ export class ShellToolInvocation extends BaseToolInvocation<
         // Create a formatted error string for display, replacing the wrapper command
         // with the user-facing command.
 
+        if (result.exitCode !== null) {
+          parts.push(`<exit_code>${result.exitCode}</exit_code>`);
+        }
+
         const output = result.output || '(empty)';
         const parts = [`<output><![CDATA[${output}]]></output>`];
         if (result.error) {
@@ -365,10 +369,6 @@ export class ShellToolInvocation extends BaseToolInvocation<
           parts.push(`<error><![CDATA[${finalError}]]></error>`);
         }
 
-        if (result.exitCode !== null) {
-          parts.push(`<exit_code>${result.exitCode}</exit_code>`);
-        }
-
         if (result.signal) {
           parts.push(`<signal>${result.signal}</signal>`);
         }