diff --git a/cli/tools/test/mod.rs b/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
index a95590433ca1ad..96f08ac1fd34d0 100644
--- a/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
+++ b/cli/tools/test/mod.rs
@@ -792,6 +792,19 @@ async fn run_tests_for_worker_inner(
       }
     };
 
+    // Check the result before we check for leaks
+    let result = {
+      let scope = &mut worker.js_runtime.handle_scope();
+      let result = v8::Local::new(scope, result);
+      serde_v8::from_v8::<TestResult>(scope, result)?
+    };
+    if matches!(result, TestResult::Failed(_)) {
+      fail_fast_tracker.add_failure();
+      let elapsed = earlier.elapsed().as_millis();
+      sender.send(TestEvent::Result(desc.id, result, elapsed as u64))?;
+      continue;
+    }
+
     // Await activity stabilization
     if let Some(diff) = wait_for_activity_to_stabilize(
       worker,
@@ -806,6 +819,7 @@ async fn run_tests_for_worker_inner(
       let (formatted, trailer_notes) = format_sanitizer_diff(diff);
       if !formatted.is_empty() {
         let failure = TestFailure::Leaked(formatted, trailer_notes);
+        fail_fast_tracker.add_failure();
         let elapsed = earlier.elapsed().as_millis();
         sender.send(TestEvent::Result(
           desc.id,
@@ -816,12 +830,6 @@ async fn run_tests_for_worker_inner(
       }
     }
 
-    let scope = &mut worker.js_runtime.handle_scope();
-    let result = v8::Local::new(scope, result);
-    let result = serde_v8::from_v8::<TestResult>(scope, result)?;
-    if matches!(result, TestResult::Failed(_)) {
-      fail_fast_tracker.add_failure();
-    }
     let elapsed = earlier.elapsed().as_millis();
     sender.send(TestEvent::Result(desc.id, result, elapsed as u64))?;
   }
diff --git a/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/__test__.json b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/__test__.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..d92c3a31f0327a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/__test__.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "args": "test --quiet --reload main.js",
+  "output": "main.out",
+  "exitCode": 1
+}
diff --git a/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.js b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..38d0ea81e18970
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.js
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Deno.test(function throws() {
+  // Leak
+  setTimeout(() => {}, 60_000);
+  // But the exception should mask the leak
+  throw new Error("Throws");
+});
diff --git a/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.out b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.out
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..2be6bf94669a4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/specs/test/sanitizer_with_error/main.out
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+running 1 test from ./main.js
+throws ... FAILED ([WILDCARD])
+
+ ERRORS 
+
+throws => ./main.js:1:6
+error: Error: Throws
+  throw new Error("Throws");
+        ^
+    at throws ([WILDCARD]/main.js:5:9)
+
+ FAILURES 
+
+throws => ./main.js:1:6
+
+FAILED | 0 passed | 1 failed ([WILDCARD])
+
+error: Test failed