diff --git a/Jenkinsfile b/Jenkinsfile
index 96c408c..e6f9c5f 100644
--- a/Jenkinsfile
+++ b/Jenkinsfile
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ PY
         container('builder') {
           sh '''
             set -euo pipefail
+            mkdir -p build
             ready=0
             for _ in $(seq 1 10); do
               if docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -195,11 +196,17 @@ PY
             if [ "${ready}" -ne 1 ]; then
               echo "docker daemon did not become ready on ${DOCKER_HOST}" >&2
               docker version || true
-              exit 1
+              printf '%s\n' 1 > build/buildx.rc
+              exit 0
             fi
             BUILDER_NAME="atlasbot-${BUILD_NUMBER}"
             docker buildx rm "${BUILDER_NAME}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-            docker buildx create --name "${BUILDER_NAME}" --driver docker-container --bootstrap --use
+            if docker buildx create --name "${BUILDER_NAME}" --driver docker-container --bootstrap --use; then
+              printf '%s\n' 0 > build/buildx.rc
+            else
+              printf '%s\n' 1 > build/buildx.rc
+              echo "docker buildx bootstrap failed; quality metrics will record the setup failure" >&2
+            fi
           '''
         }
       }