diff --git a/tools/link.py b/tools/link.py
index ac35df22172bc..866b963e2f88b 100644
--- a/tools/link.py
+++ b/tools/link.py
@@ -789,6 +789,8 @@ def phase_linker_setup(options, state):  # noqa: C901, PLR0912, PLR0915
   else:
     # Otherwise the wasm file is produced alongside the final target.
     wasm_target = get_secondary_target(target, '.wasm')
+    if final_suffix in EXECUTABLE_ENDINGS:
+        options.executable = True
 
   if settings.SAFE_HEAP not in [0, 1, 2]:
     exit_with_error('emcc: SAFE_HEAP must be 0, 1 or 2')