diff --git a/py/test/outcome.py b/py/test/outcome.py
index 66a6c2c95..45b5ae8b6 100644
--- a/py/test/outcome.py
+++ b/py/test/outcome.py
@@ -36,11 +36,11 @@ class ExceptionFailure(Failed):
         self.expr = expr 
         self.expected = expected
 
-class Exit(Exception):
+class Exit(KeyboardInterrupt):
     """ for immediate program exits without tracebacks and reporter/summary. """
     def __init__(self, msg="unknown reason"):
         self.msg = msg 
-        Exception.__init__(self, msg)
+        KeyboardInterrupt.__init__(self, msg)
 
 # exposed helper methods 
 
diff --git a/py/test/runner.py b/py/test/runner.py
index e6a15e6e4..7b399e055 100644
--- a/py/test/runner.py
+++ b/py/test/runner.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 import py
 
-from py.__.test.outcome import Exit, Skipped
+from py.__.test.outcome import Skipped
 
 def basic_run_report(item, pdb=None):
     """ return report about setting up and running a test item. """ 
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def basic_run_report(item, pdb=None):
                 when = "execute"
         finally:
             outerr = capture.reset()
-    except (Exit, KeyboardInterrupt):
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
         raise
     except: 
         excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def basic_collect_report(collector):
             res = collector._memocollect()
         finally:
             outerr = capture.reset()
-    except (Exit, KeyboardInterrupt):
+    except KeyboardInterrupt:
         raise
     except: 
         excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ def forked_run_report(item, pdb=None):
     def runforked():
         try:
             testrep = basic_run_report(item)
-        except (KeyboardInterrupt, Exit): 
+        except KeyboardInterrupt: 
             py.std.os._exit(EXITSTATUS_TESTEXIT)
         return ipickle.dumps(testrep)
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def forked_run_report(item, pdb=None):
         return ipickle.loads(result.retval)
     else:
         if result.exitstatus == EXITSTATUS_TESTEXIT:
-            raise Exit("forked test item %s raised Exit" %(item,))
+            py.test.exit("forked test item %s raised Exit" %(item,))
         return report_process_crash(item, result)
 
 def report_process_crash(item, result):
diff --git a/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py b/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
index a11691cc4..2ef2e12c2 100644
--- a/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
+++ b/py/test/testing/test_outcome.py
@@ -76,6 +76,13 @@ def test_importorskip():
         print py.code.ExceptionInfo()
         py.test.fail("spurious skip")
 
+def test_pytest_exit():
+    try:
+        py.test.exit("hello")
+    except:
+        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
+        assert excinfo.errisinstance(KeyboardInterrupt)
+
 def test_pytest_mark_getattr():
     from py.__.test.outcome import mark
     def f(): pass