diff --git a/caffeinate.py b/caffeinate.py
index 732bafff55..2e309dfa6d 100644
--- a/caffeinate.py
+++ b/caffeinate.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 # Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
 # found in the LICENSE file.
 
+import os
 import subprocess
 import sys
 
@@ -12,13 +13,16 @@ caffeinate:
   {_NO_CAFFEINATE_FLAG}  do not prepend `caffeinate` to ninja command
 """
 
-def run(cmd, env=None):
-    """Runs a command with `caffeinate` if it's on macOS."""
+
+def call(args, **call_kwargs):
+    """Runs a command (via subprocess.call) with `caffeinate` if it's on macOS."""
     if sys.platform == 'darwin':
-        if '-h' in cmd or '--help' in cmd:
+        if isinstance(args, (str, bytes, os.PathLike)):
+            args = [args]
+        if '-h' in args or '--help' in args:
             print(_HELP_MESSAGE, file=sys.stderr)
-        if _NO_CAFFEINATE_FLAG in cmd:
-            cmd.remove(_NO_CAFFEINATE_FLAG)
+        if _NO_CAFFEINATE_FLAG in args:
+            args.remove(_NO_CAFFEINATE_FLAG)
         else:
-            cmd = ['caffeinate'] + cmd
-    return subprocess.call(cmd, env=env)
+            args = ['caffeinate'] + args
+    return subprocess.call(args, **call_kwargs)
diff --git a/ninja.py b/ninja.py
index 2f673571ec..ede7cca937 100755
--- a/ninja.py
+++ b/ninja.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def fallback(tool, out_dir, ninja_args):
     ninja_path = find_ninja_in_path()
     if ninja_path:
         check_out_dir(tool, out_dir)
-        return caffeinate.run([ninja_path] + ninja_args)
+        return caffeinate.call([ninja_path] + ninja_args)
 
     print(
         "depot_tools/ninja.py: Could not find Ninja in the third_party of "
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def main(args):
         )
         if os.path.isfile(ninja_path):
             check_out_dir(tool, out_dir)
-            return caffeinate.run([ninja_path] + args[1:])
+            return caffeinate.call([ninja_path] + args[1:])
 
     return fallback(tool, out_dir, args[1:])
 
diff --git a/siso.py b/siso.py
index 5a0ed01bc3..b61d8e3202 100644
--- a/siso.py
+++ b/siso.py
@@ -311,14 +311,14 @@ def main(args, telemetry_cfg: Optional[build_telemetry.Config] = None):
         for siso_path in siso_paths:
             if siso_path and os.path.isfile(siso_path):
                 check_outdir(subcmd, out_dir)
-                return caffeinate.run([siso_path] + processed_args, env=env)
+                return caffeinate.call([siso_path] + processed_args, env=env)
         print(
             'depot_tools/siso.py: Could not find siso in third_party/siso '
             'of the current project. Did you run gclient sync?',
             file=sys.stderr)
         return 1
     if siso_override_path:
-        return caffeinate.run([siso_override_path] + args[1:], env=env)
+        return caffeinate.call([siso_override_path] + args[1:], env=env)
 
     print(
         'depot_tools/siso.py: Could not find .sisoenv under build/config/siso '