diff --git a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.kt b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.kt
index 365c77a53ee..0980e6bffee 100644
--- a/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.kt
+++ b/compiler/cli/src/org/jetbrains/kotlin/cli/common/CLICompiler.kt
@@ -121,12 +121,17 @@ abstract class CLICompiler<A : CommonCompilerArguments> : CLITool<A>() {
             return COMPILATION_ERROR
         } catch (t: Throwable) {
             MessageCollectorUtil.reportException(collector, t)
-            return if (t is OutOfMemoryError) OOM_ERROR else INTERNAL_ERROR
+            return if (t is OutOfMemoryError || t.hasOOMCause()) OOM_ERROR else INTERNAL_ERROR
         } finally {
             collector.flush()
         }
     }
 
+    private fun Throwable.hasOOMCause(): Boolean = when (cause) {
+        is OutOfMemoryError -> true
+        else -> cause?.hasOOMCause() ?: false
+    }
+
     private fun MessageCollector.reportCompilationCancelled(e: CompilationCanceledException) {
         if (e !is IncrementalNextRoundException) {
             report(INFO, "Compilation was canceled", null)