diff --git a/scripts/ssh/ssh-exec.php b/scripts/ssh/ssh-exec.php
index 33fa75898d..ee25ce75f9 100755
--- a/scripts/ssh/ssh-exec.php
+++ b/scripts/ssh/ssh-exec.php
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ try {
     ));
 
   if ($rethrow) {
-    throw $ex;
+    throw $rethrow;
   }
 } catch (Exception $ex) {
   fwrite(STDERR, "phabricator-ssh-exec: ".$ex->getMessage()."\n");