diff --git a/.ci/compile.sh b/.ci/compile.sh
index bf5a169af..9be8ba741 100755
--- a/.ci/compile.sh
+++ b/.ci/compile.sh
@@ -311,16 +311,24 @@ if [[ $RUNNER_OS == macOS ]]; then
 
   if [[ $MAKE_PACKAGE ]]; then
     # Workaround https://github.com/actions/runner-images/issues/7522
-    # have hdiutil repeat the command 10 times in hope of success
+    # have hdiutil repeat the command 10 times in hope of success.
+    # The wrapper has to exit non-zero once it gives up: CPack reads that status to
+    # decide whether the disk image was created, so a zero exit turns a failed hdiutil
+    # into a much later, misleading "Problem copying the package" error that hides
+    # hdiutil's own message.
     hdiutil_script="/tmp/hdiutil.sh"
     # shellcheck disable=SC2016
     echo '#!/bin/bash
+    attempts=10
     i=0
-    while ! hdiutil "$@"; do
-      if (( ++i >= 10 )); then
-        echo "Error: hdiutil failed $i times!" >&2
-        break
+    while true; do
+      hdiutil "$@" && exit 0
+      rc=$?
+      if (( ++i >= attempts )); then
+        echo "::error::hdiutil $1 failed $i times (last status $rc), giving up" >&2
+        exit "$rc"
       fi
+      echo "hdiutil $1 attempt $i/$attempts failed (status $rc), retrying" >&2
       sleep 1
     done' >"$hdiutil_script"
     chmod +x "$hdiutil_script"