diff --git a/tools/ci_build/build.py b/tools/ci_build/build.py
index 05e1f96b7610c..2eae00b8ad849 100644
--- a/tools/ci_build/build.py
+++ b/tools/ci_build/build.py
@@ -2346,9 +2346,6 @@ def main():
         if args.nnapi_min_api < 27:
             raise BuildError("--nnapi_min_api should be 27+")
 
-    if args.build_wasm_static_lib:
-        args.build_wasm = True
-
     if args.build_wasm:
         if not args.disable_wasm_exception_catching and args.disable_exceptions:
             # When '--disable_exceptions' is set, we set '--disable_wasm_exception_catching' as well
diff --git a/tools/ci_build/build_args.py b/tools/ci_build/build_args.py
index f32666f65cc38..b01354fc5db74 100644
--- a/tools/ci_build/build_args.py
+++ b/tools/ci_build/build_args.py
@@ -935,6 +935,10 @@ def convert_arg_line_to_args(self, arg_line: str) -> list[str]:  # Use list[str]
     if args.android_ndk_path:
         args.android_ndk_path = os.path.normpath(args.android_ndk_path)
 
+    # Treat --build_wasm_static_lib as implying --build_wasm
+    if args.build_wasm_static_lib:
+        args.build_wasm = True
+
     # Handle WASM exception logic
     if args.enable_wasm_api_exception_catching:
         args.disable_wasm_exception_catching = True  # Catching at API level implies disabling broader catching