diff --git a/Makefile.pre.in b/Makefile.pre.in
index ba039794c88b01..5fcd9f509dee11 100644
--- a/Makefile.pre.in
+++ b/Makefile.pre.in
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ build_all:	check-clean-src check-app-store-compliance $(BUILDPYTHON) platform sh
 
 .PHONY: build_wasm
 build_wasm: check-clean-src $(BUILDPYTHON) platform sharedmods \
-		python-config checksharedmods
+		python-config checksharedmods build-details.json
 
 .PHONY: build_emscripten
 build_emscripten: build_wasm web_example web_example_pyrepl_jspi
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2025-09-24-13-59-26.gh-issue-138489.1AcuZM.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2025-09-24-13-59-26.gh-issue-138489.1AcuZM.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..b11098a3f87953
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Build/2025-09-24-13-59-26.gh-issue-138489.1AcuZM.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+When cross-compiling for WASI by ``build_wasm`` or ``build_emscripten``, the
+``build-details.json`` step is now included in the build process, just like
+with native builds.
+
+This fixes the ``libinstall`` task which requires the ``build-details.json``
+file during the process.