diff --git a/tests/run-alpine b/tests/run-alpine
index 675004d5..025a84be 100755
--- a/tests/run-alpine
+++ b/tests/run-alpine
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ else
 fi
 
 $RUNC run --interactive ${OPTS:-} --volume `pwd`:/source:ro ${1:-docker.io/alpine} /bin/sh <<EOF
+# avoid meson exit code 125; https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/11540
+trap '[ \$? -eq 0 ] || exit 1' EXIT
 
 # install build dependencies
 apk add --no-cache meson gcc musl-dev glib-dev eudev-dev libpcap-dev make vala linux-headers xz usbutils ${EXTRA_PACKAGES:-}
diff --git a/tests/run-apt b/tests/run-apt
index 3e64cd84..6f27fa34 100755
--- a/tests/run-apt
+++ b/tests/run-apt
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ fi
 $RUNC run --interactive ${OPTS:-} --volume `pwd`:/source${MOUNT_MODE:-} ${1:-docker.io/amd64/ubuntu:rolling} /bin/sh << EOF
 set -ex
 
+# avoid meson exit code 125; https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/11540
+trap '[ \$? -eq 0 ] || exit 1' EXIT
+
 # go-faster apt
 echo  'Acquire::Languages "none";' > /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/90nolanguages
 
diff --git a/tests/run-dnf b/tests/run-dnf
index e242883b..1dfebe8e 100755
--- a/tests/run-dnf
+++ b/tests/run-dnf
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ fi
 
 $RUNC run --interactive ${RUNC_OPTIONS:-} ${OPTS:-} --volume `pwd`:/source:ro ${1:-registry.fedoraproject.org/fedora} /bin/sh << EOF
 set -eu
+
+# avoid meson exit code 125; https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/11540
+trap '[ \$? -eq 0 ] || exit 1' EXIT
+
 dnf -y update
 
 if grep -q ID=.*centos /etc/os-release; then
diff --git a/tests/run-nix b/tests/run-nix
index ddc3cddf..8de9cc40 100755
--- a/tests/run-nix
+++ b/tests/run-nix
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ fi
 
 # sandboxing requires privileged container; https://github.com/NixOS/docker#limitations
 $RUNC run --interactive ${DEBUG:+--tty} --privileged --volume `pwd`:/source:ro ${1:-docker.io/nixos/nix} /bin/sh <<EOF
+# avoid meson exit code 125; https://github.com/containers/podman/issues/11540
+trap '[ \$? -eq 0 ] || exit 1' EXIT
+
 sed -i '/sandbox/ s/false/true/' /etc/nix/nix.conf
 
 cat <<EOG > /tmp/default.nix