diff --git a/src/run.c b/src/run.c
index 083ed65..97127aa 100644
--- a/src/run.c
+++ b/src/run.c
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "../include/run.h"
+#include "../include/build.h"
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ void run_project() {
     system("make run");
   } else {
     // file does not exist => project has not been built
-    printf("Project not yet built. Build it first with 'vendetta build'.\n");
-    exit(1);
+    build_project();
+    run_project();
   }
 }