diff --git a/interpreter.py b/interpreter.py
index 99238920f..2d86454e3 100644
--- a/interpreter.py
+++ b/interpreter.py
@@ -1451,11 +1451,18 @@ class Interpreter():
         self.add_target(name, tg.held_object)
         return tg
 
-    @stringArgs
     @noKwargs
     def func_run_target(self, node, args, kwargs):
         if len(args) < 2:
             raise InterpreterException('Incorrect number of arguments')
+        for i in args:
+            try:
+                i = i.held_object
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+            if not isinstance(i, (str, build.BuildTarget)):
+                mlog.debug('Wrong type:', str(i))
+                raise InterpreterException('Invalid argument to run_target.')
         name = args[0]
         command = args[1]
         cmd_args = args[2:]
diff --git a/ninjabackend.py b/ninjabackend.py
index ebf0a9403..3e15a3154 100644
--- a/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/ninjabackend.py
@@ -312,9 +312,32 @@ class NinjaBackend(backends.Backend):
 
     def generate_run_target(self, target, outfile):
         runnerscript = os.path.join(self.environment.get_script_dir(), 'commandrunner.py')
-        elem = NinjaBuildElement(target.name, 'CUSTOM_COMMAND', [])
-        cmd = [sys.executable, runnerscript, self.environment.get_source_dir(), self.environment.get_build_dir(),
-               target.subdir, target.command] + target.args
+        deps = []
+        arg_strings = []
+        for i in target.args:
+            if isinstance(i, str):
+                arg_strings.append(i)
+            elif isinstance(i, build.BuildTarget):
+                deps.append(self.get_target_filename(i))
+            else:
+                raise MesonException('Unreachable code.')
+        elem = NinjaBuildElement(target.name, 'CUSTOM_COMMAND', deps)
+        cmd = [sys.executable, runnerscript, self.environment.get_source_dir(), self.environment.get_build_dir(), target.subdir]
+        texe = target.command
+        try:
+            texe = texe.held_object
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+        if isinstance(texe, build.Executable):
+            deps.append(self.get_target_filename(texe))
+            if self.environment.is_cross_build() \
+                and wrapper is not self.environment.cross_info.config['binaries'].get('exe_wrapper', None):
+                cmd += [self.environment.cross_info.config['binaries']['exe_wrapper'], self.get_target_filename(texe)]
+            else:
+                cmd += [os.path.join(self.environment.get_build_dir(), self.get_target_filename(texe))]
+        else:
+            cmd.append(target.command)
+        cmd += target.args
         elem.add_item('COMMAND', cmd)
         elem.add_item('description', 'Running external command %s.' % target.name)
         elem.add_item('pool', 'console')
diff --git a/test cases/common/58 run target/helloprinter.c b/test cases/common/58 run target/helloprinter.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f94b19fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/common/58 run target/helloprinter.c	
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include<stdio.h>
+
+int main(int argc, char **argv) {
+    if(argc != 2) {
+        printf("I can not haz argument.\n");
+    } else {
+        printf("I can haz argument: %s\n", argv[1]);
+    }
+    return 0;
+}
diff --git a/test cases/common/58 run target/meson.build b/test cases/common/58 run target/meson.build
index 3ae80d217..519adf5df 100644
--- a/test cases/common/58 run target/meson.build	
+++ b/test cases/common/58 run target/meson.build	
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
 project('run target', 'c')
 
 run_target('mycommand', 'scripts/script.sh')
+
+# Make it possible to run built programs.
+# In cross builds exe_wrapper should be added if it exists.
+
+exe = executable('helloprinter', 'helloprinter.c')
+run_target('runhello', exe, 'argument')