diff --git a/tools/releasetools/merge_target_files.py b/tools/releasetools/merge_target_files.py
index 9360d7b..3d9c717 100755
--- a/tools/releasetools/merge_target_files.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/merge_target_files.py
@@ -887,12 +887,12 @@
       output_zip,
       '-C',
       source_dir,
-      '-l',
+      '-r',
       output_target_files_list,
   ]
 
   logger.info('creating %s', output_file)
-  common.RunAndWait(command, verbose=True)
+  common.RunAndCheckOutput(command, verbose=True)
   logger.info('finished creating %s', output_file)
 
   return output_zip