diff --git a/crates/uv-cli/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv-cli/src/lib.rs
index 3e333d76a581..e46e28435c83 100644
--- a/crates/uv-cli/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/uv-cli/src/lib.rs
@@ -2242,6 +2242,10 @@ pub struct BuildArgs {
     #[arg(long, overrides_with("build_logs"))]
     pub no_build_logs: bool,
 
+    /// Don't delete the sdist directory upon a build error.
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pub keep_on_error: bool,
+
     /// Always build through PEP 517, don't use the fast path for the uv build backend.
     ///
     /// By default, uv won't create a PEP 517 build environment for packages using the uv build
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/commands/build_frontend.rs b/crates/uv/src/commands/build_frontend.rs
index 69be6fda90d0..0214a386f93b 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/commands/build_frontend.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/commands/build_frontend.rs
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn build_frontend(
     settings: &ResolverSettings,
     network_settings: &NetworkSettings,
     no_config: bool,
+    keep_on_error: bool,
     python_preference: PythonPreference,
     python_downloads: PythonDownloads,
     concurrency: Concurrency,
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn build_frontend(
         settings,
         network_settings,
         no_config,
+        keep_on_error,
         python_preference,
         python_downloads,
         concurrency,
@@ -178,6 +180,7 @@ async fn build_impl(
     settings: &ResolverSettings,
     network_settings: &NetworkSettings,
     no_config: bool,
+    keep_on_error: bool,
     python_preference: PythonPreference,
     python_downloads: PythonDownloads,
     concurrency: Concurrency,
@@ -327,6 +330,7 @@ async fn build_impl(
             python_request,
             install_mirrors.clone(),
             no_config,
+            keep_on_error,
             workspace.as_ref(),
             python_preference,
             python_downloads,
@@ -405,6 +409,7 @@ async fn build_package(
     python_request: Option<&str>,
     install_mirrors: PythonInstallMirrors,
     no_config: bool,
+    keep_on_error: bool,
     workspace: Result<&Workspace, &WorkspaceError>,
     python_preference: PythonPreference,
     python_downloads: PythonDownloads,
@@ -697,8 +702,18 @@ async fn build_package(
                 build_output,
                 Some(sdist_build.normalized_filename().version()),
             )
-            .await?;
-            build_results.push(wheel_build);
+            .await;
+
+            if keep_on_error && wheel_build.is_err() {
+                let path = temp_dir.into_path();
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "`--keep-on-error` was provided, build can be found in {}",
+                    path.display()
+                )?;
+            }
+
+            build_results.push(wheel_build?);
         }
         BuildPlan::Sdist => {
             let sdist_build = build_sdist(
@@ -812,8 +827,17 @@ async fn build_package(
                 build_output,
                 version.as_ref(),
             )
-            .await?;
-            build_results.push(wheel_build);
+            .await;
+
+            if keep_on_error && wheel_build.is_err() {
+                let path = temp_dir.into_path();
+                writeln!(
+                    printer.stderr(),
+                    "`--keep-on-error` was provided, build can be found in {}",
+                    path.display()
+                )?;
+            }
+            build_results.push(wheel_build?);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/lib.rs b/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
index f0ed52308cdc..ff2de0f4e09b 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/lib.rs
@@ -895,6 +895,7 @@ async fn run(mut cli: Cli) -> Result<ExitStatus> {
                 &args.settings,
                 &globals.network_settings,
                 cli.top_level.no_config,
+                args.keep_on_error,
                 globals.python_preference,
                 globals.python_downloads,
                 globals.concurrency,
diff --git a/crates/uv/src/settings.rs b/crates/uv/src/settings.rs
index 662a53fed491..d5192778d504 100644
--- a/crates/uv/src/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/uv/src/settings.rs
@@ -2262,6 +2262,7 @@ pub(crate) struct BuildSettings {
     pub(crate) list: bool,
     pub(crate) build_logs: bool,
     pub(crate) force_pep517: bool,
+    pub(crate) keep_on_error: bool,
     pub(crate) build_constraints: Vec<PathBuf>,
     pub(crate) hash_checking: Option<HashCheckingMode>,
     pub(crate) python: Option<String>,
@@ -2289,6 +2290,7 @@ impl BuildSettings {
             no_verify_hashes,
             build_logs,
             no_build_logs,
+            keep_on_error,
             python,
             build,
             refresh,
@@ -2314,6 +2316,7 @@ impl BuildSettings {
                 .filter_map(Maybe::into_option)
                 .collect(),
             force_pep517,
+            keep_on_error,
             hash_checking: HashCheckingMode::from_args(
                 flag(require_hashes, no_require_hashes),
                 flag(verify_hashes, no_verify_hashes),