diff --git a/builtin/bisect.c b/builtin/bisect.c
index ceb60b0626..733d28d377 100644
--- a/builtin/bisect.c
+++ b/builtin/bisect.c
@@ -1308,7 +1308,12 @@ static int bisect_run(struct bisect_terms *terms, int argc, const char **argv)
 
 		fflush(stdout);
 		saved_stdout = dup(1);
-		dup2(temporary_stdout_fd, 1);
+		if (saved_stdout < 0 ||
+		    dup2(temporary_stdout_fd, 1) < 0) {
+			res = error_errno(_("could not duplicate stdout"));
+			close(temporary_stdout_fd);
+			break;
+		}
 
 		res = bisect_state(terms, 1, &new_state);