diff --git a/osbuild b/osbuild
index 968368d6..3659439d 100755
--- a/osbuild
+++ b/osbuild
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ BOLD = "\033[1m"
 RED = "\033[31m"
 
 
-def run_interactive(pipeline_path, input_dir, output_dir, sit):
+def run_interactive(pipeline_path, input_dir, output_dir):
     with open(pipeline_path) as f:
         pipeline = json.load(f)
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def run_interactive(pipeline_path, input_dir, output_dir, sit):
             print("Inspect with:")
             print(f"\t# nsenter -a --wd=/root -t `machinectl show {buildroot.machine_name} -p Leader --value`")
             print()
-            buildroot.run_stage(name, options, input_dir, sit)
+            buildroot.run_stage(name, options, input_dir)
 
         assembler = pipeline.get("assembler")
         if assembler:
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                         help="provide the contents of DIRECTORY to the first stage")
     parser.add_argument("--output", dest="output_dir", metavar="DIRECTORY", type=os.path.abspath,
                         help="provide the empty DIRECTORY as output argument to the last stage")
-    parser.add_argument("--sit", action="store_true",
-                        help="keep the build environment up when a stage failed")
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     os.makedirs("/run/osbuild", exist_ok=True)
@@ -59,7 +57,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         sys.exit(1)
 
     try:
-        run_interactive(args.pipeline_path, args.input_dir, args.output_dir, args.sit)
+        run_interactive(args.pipeline_path, args.input_dir, args.output_dir)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         print()
         print(f"{RESET}{BOLD}{RED}Aborted{RESET}")
diff --git a/osbuild.py b/osbuild.py
index 656bd002..f109187c 100644
--- a/osbuild.py
+++ b/osbuild.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class BuildRoot:
             *[f"--bind-ro={src}:{dest}" for src, dest in readonly_binds]
         ] + argv, *args, **kwargs)
 
-    def run_stage(self, stage, options={}, input_dir=None, sit=False):
+    def run_stage(self, stage, options={}, input_dir=None):
         options = {
             **options,
             "tree": "/tmp/tree",
@@ -86,18 +86,13 @@ class BuildRoot:
         if input_dir:
             options["input_dir"] = "/tmp/input"
             robinds.append((input_dir, "/tmp/input"))
-
-        argv = ["/tmp/run-stage"]
-        if sit:
-            argv.append("--sit")
-        argv.append("/tmp/stage")
-
         try:
-            self.run(argv, readonly_binds=robinds, input=json.dumps(options), encoding="utf-8", check=True)
+            self.run(["/tmp/run-stage", "/tmp/stage"], readonly_binds=robinds,
+                input=json.dumps(options), encoding="utf-8", check=True)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as error:
             raise StageFailed(stage, error.returncode)
 
-    def run_assembler(self, name, options, output_dir=None, sit=False):
+    def run_assembler(self, name, options, output_dir=None):
         if output_dir and not os.path.exists(output_dir):
             os.makedirs(output_dir)
 
@@ -118,13 +113,8 @@ class BuildRoot:
             options["output_dir"] = "/tmp/output"
             binds.append((output_dir, "/tmp/output"))
 
-        argv = ["/tmp/run-stage"]
-        if sit:
-            argv.append("--sit")
-        argv.append("/tmp/stage")
-
         try:
-            self.run(argv, binds=binds, readonly_binds=robinds, input=json.dumps(options), encoding="utf-8", check=True)
+            self.run(["/tmp/run-stage", "/tmp/stage"], binds=binds, readonly_binds=robinds, input=json.dumps(options), encoding="utf-8", check=True)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as error:
             raise StageFailed(stage, error.returncode)
 
diff --git a/run-stage b/run-stage
index a5b027c0..343f6d11 100755
--- a/run-stage
+++ b/run-stage
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ BOLD = "\033[1m"
 RED = "\033[31m"
 
 
-def main(stage, sit):
+def main(stage):
     # ld.so.conf must exist, or `ldconfig` throws a warning
     subprocess.run(["touch", "/etc/ld.so.conf"], check=True)
     subprocess.run(["ldconfig"], check=True)
@@ -26,19 +26,11 @@ def main(stage, sit):
     subprocess.run(["systemd-tmpfiles", "--create"])
 
     r = subprocess.run([stage])
-    if sit and r.returncode != 0:
-        import signal
-        print()
-        print(f"{RESET}{BOLD}{RED}Stage failed with code {r.returncode}{RESET}")
-        print("Keeping the build environment running...")
-        signal.pause()
-
     return r.returncode
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
     parser.add_argument("stage")
-    parser.add_argument("--sit", action="store_true")
     args = parser.parse_args()
     sys.exit(main(**vars(args)))