diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 2a5e2e6..ba398c7 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -892,6 +892,9 @@
 Build
 -----
 
+- Issue #5726: Make Modules/ld_so_aix return the actual exit code of the
+  linker, rather than always exit successfully. Patch by Floris Bruynooghe.
+
 - Issue #4587: Add configure option --with-dbmliborder=db1:db2:... to specify
   the order that backends for the dbm extension are checked. 
 
diff --git a/Modules/ld_so_aix b/Modules/ld_so_aix
index 76afa6e..6b83823 100755
--- a/Modules/ld_so_aix
+++ b/Modules/ld_so_aix
@@ -181,7 +181,10 @@
 # Perform the link.
 #echo $CC $CCOPT $CCARGS
 $CC $CCOPT $CCARGS
+retval=$?
 
 # Delete the module's export list file.
 # Comment this line if you need it.
 rm -f $expfile
+
+exit $retval