diff --git a/docs/project/changelog.md b/docs/project/changelog.md
index 43f5508bc..4e8dfbee0 100644
--- a/docs/project/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/project/changelog.md
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ myst:
 
 ## Unreleased
 
+- {{ Fix }} Pass through `-E` (command mode) arguments in CMake wrapper {pr}`4705`.
+
 - {{ Fix }} Fix exception handling in dynamic linking of int64 functions {pr}`4698`.
 
 - {{ Enhancement }} `str(jsproxy)` has been adjusted to not raise an error if
diff --git a/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pywasmcross.py b/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pywasmcross.py
index 64af4f3c6..3c77b8345 100755
--- a/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pywasmcross.py
+++ b/pyodide-build/pyodide_build/pywasmcross.py
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ def handle_command_generate_args(  # noqa: C901
         return line
     elif cmd == "cmake":
         # If it is a build/install command, or running a script, we don't do anything.
-        if "--build" in line or "--install" in line or "-P" in line:
+        if "--build" in line or "--install" in line or "-P" in line or "-E" in line:
             return line
 
         flags = get_cmake_compiler_flags()