diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 84062a5b..5a00d12b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -53,9 +53,10 @@ Exit code
 run_tests.sh exits with the following exit codes:
 
 * 0: all tests passed
-* 1: at least one test failed
-* 2: no tests failed, but there was at least one broken test
-* 3: no tests failed or are broken, but there is at least one fixed test
+* 1: at least one essential test failed
+* 2: no essential tests, but at least one regular one failed
+* 3: no tests failed, but there was at least one broken test
+* 4: no tests failed or are broken, but there is at least one fixed test
 
 Reporting Radare2 Bugs
 ----------------------
diff --git a/run_tests.sh b/run_tests.sh
index 628ce08c..6adc2e5a 100755
--- a/run_tests.sh
+++ b/run_tests.sh
@@ -138,13 +138,16 @@ echo "$V,${TESTS_SUCCESS},${TESTS_FIXED},${TESTS_BROKEN},${TESTS_FAILED},${TESTS
 sort .stats.csv > stats.csv
 rm -f .stats.csv
 
-# Proper exit code.
+# Exit codes, as documented in README.md
 if [ "${TESTS_FATAL}" -gt 0 ]; then
   echo "ESSENTIAL TEST HAS FAILED"
-  exit 2
-fi
-
-if [ "${TESTS_FAILED}" -gt 0 ]; then
   exit 1
+elif [ "${TESTS_FAILED}" -gt 0 ]; then
+  exit 2
+elif [ "${TESTS_BROKEN}" -gt 0 ]; then
+  exit 3
+elif [ "${TESTS_FIXED}" -gt 0 ]; then
+  exit 4
+else
+  exit 0
 fi
-exit 0