diff --git a/misc/python/materialize/cli/bazel.py b/misc/python/materialize/cli/bazel.py
index df11cd6cf928d..0cba000875e2c 100644
--- a/misc/python/materialize/cli/bazel.py
+++ b/misc/python/materialize/cli/bazel.py
@@ -116,7 +116,12 @@ def integrity_cmd(config: BuildConfig, args: list[str]):
 def bazel_cmd(config: BuildConfig, args: list[str]):
     """Forwards all arguments to Bazel, possibly with extra configuration."""
     remote_cache = remote_cache_arg(config)
-    subprocess.run(["bazel", *args, *remote_cache], check=True)
+    try:
+        subprocess.run(["bazel", *args, *remote_cache], check=True)
+    except:
+        # Don't print any python backtrace because it's never useful. Instead
+        # just exit the process.
+        exit(1)
 
 
 def gen(config: BuildConfig, path: Path | None, check: bool):