diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index 2ee69f4dc..de14bcf5f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ Changes between 1.2.1 and 1.2.2 (release pending)
 - added links to the new capturelog and coverage plugins 
 - (issue87) fix unboundlocal error in assertionold code 
 - (issue86) improve documentation for looponfailing
-- expose some internal test running exceptions under py.test.exc.*
-  and shift raises/importorskip etc. helper definitions to runner plugin .
+- expose test outcome related exceptions as py.test.skip.Exception, 
+  py.test.raises.Exception etc., useful mostly for plugins
+  doing special outcome interpreteration/tweaking
 - ship distribute_setup.py version 0.6.10 
 
 
diff --git a/py/_plugin/pytest_pdb.py b/py/_plugin/pytest_pdb.py
index e2a3bb3e2..f8b69f799 100644
--- a/py/_plugin/pytest_pdb.py
+++ b/py/_plugin/pytest_pdb.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
 class PdbInvoke:
     def pytest_runtest_makereport(self, item, call):
         if call.excinfo and not \
-           call.excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.exc.Skipped): 
+           call.excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.skip.Exception): 
             # play well with capturing, slightly hackish
             capman = item.config.pluginmanager.getplugin('capturemanager')
             capman.suspendcapture() 
diff --git a/py/_plugin/pytest_runner.py b/py/_plugin/pytest_runner.py
index cf0f9a301..c295dbe5f 100644
--- a/py/_plugin/pytest_runner.py
+++ b/py/_plugin/pytest_runner.py
@@ -5,15 +5,7 @@ collect and run test items and create reports.
 import py, sys
 
 def pytest_namespace():
-    class exc:
-        """ namespace holding py.test runner exceptions. """
-        Skipped = Skipped
-        ExceptionFailure = ExceptionFailure
-        Failed = Failed
-        Exit = Exit
-
     return {
-        'exc'          : exc, 
         'raises'       : raises, 
         'skip'         : skip,
         'importorskip' : importorskip,
@@ -157,7 +149,7 @@ class ItemTestReport(BaseReport):
                 self.failed = True
                 shortrepr = "?"
                 longrepr = excinfo 
-            elif excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.exc.Skipped):
+            elif excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.skip.Exception):
                 self.skipped = True 
                 shortrepr = "s"
                 longrepr = self.item._repr_failure_py(excinfo)
@@ -196,7 +188,7 @@ class CollectReport(BaseReport):
             self.result = result 
         else:
             self.longrepr = self.collector._repr_failure_py(excinfo)
-            if excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.exc.Skipped):
+            if excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.skip.Exception):
                 self.skipped = True
                 self.reason = str(excinfo.value)
             else:
@@ -322,6 +314,8 @@ def exit(msg):
     __tracebackhide__ = True
     raise Exit(msg)
 
+exit.Exception = Exit
+
 def skip(msg=""):
     """ skip an executing test with the given message.  Note: it's usually
     better use the py.test.mark.skipif marker to declare a test to be
@@ -331,11 +325,15 @@ def skip(msg=""):
     __tracebackhide__ = True
     raise Skipped(msg=msg) 
 
+skip.Exception = Skipped
+
 def fail(msg=""):
     """ explicitely fail an currently-executing test with the given Message. """
     __tracebackhide__ = True
     raise Failed(msg=msg) 
 
+fail.Exception = Failed
+
 def raises(ExpectedException, *args, **kwargs):
     """ if args[0] is callable: raise AssertionError if calling it with 
         the remaining arguments does not raise the expected exception.  
@@ -375,6 +373,8 @@ def raises(ExpectedException, *args, **kwargs):
     raise ExceptionFailure(msg="DID NOT RAISE", 
                            expr=args, expected=ExpectedException) 
 
+raises.Exception = ExceptionFailure
+
 def importorskip(modname, minversion=None):
     """ return imported module if it has a higher __version__ than the 
     optionally specified 'minversion' - otherwise call py.test.skip() 
diff --git a/py/_test/pluginmanager.py b/py/_test/pluginmanager.py
index b84a9938b..6392ff911 100644
--- a/py/_test/pluginmanager.py
+++ b/py/_test/pluginmanager.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class PluginManager(object):
             mod = importplugin(modname)
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             raise
-        except py.test.exc.Skipped:
+        except py.test.skip.Exception:
             e = py.std.sys.exc_info()[1]
             self._hints.append("skipped plugin %r: %s" %((modname, e.msg)))
         else:
diff --git a/testing/plugin/test_pytest_runner.py b/testing/plugin/test_pytest_runner.py
index 462069ef0..f4e9a9ff0 100644
--- a/testing/plugin/test_pytest_runner.py
+++ b/testing/plugin/test_pytest_runner.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import py
+import py, sys
 from py._plugin import pytest_runner as runner
 from py._code.code import ReprExceptionInfo
 
@@ -201,9 +201,9 @@ class BaseFunctionalTests:
             testdir.runitem("""
                 import py
                 def test_func():
-                    raise py.test.exc.Exit()
+                    raise py.test.exit.Exception()
             """)
-        except py.test.exc.Exit:
+        except py.test.exit.Exception:
             pass
         else: 
             py.test.fail("did not raise")
@@ -313,3 +313,91 @@ def test_runtest_in_module_ordering(testdir):
     assert result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
         "*2 passed*"
     ])
+
+class TestRaises:
+    def test_raises(self):
+        py.test.raises(ValueError, "int('qwe')")
+
+    def test_raises_exec(self):
+        py.test.raises(ValueError, "a,x = []") 
+
+    def test_raises_syntax_error(self):
+        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "qwe qwe qwe")
+
+    def test_raises_function(self):
+        py.test.raises(ValueError, int, 'hello')
+
+    def test_raises_callable_no_exception(self):
+        class A:
+            def __call__(self):
+                pass
+        try:
+            py.test.raises(ValueError, A())
+        except py.test.raises.Exception:
+            pass
+
+def test_pytest_exit():
+    try:
+        py.test.exit("hello")
+    except py.test.exit.Exception:
+        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
+        assert excinfo.errisinstance(KeyboardInterrupt)
+
+def test_pytest_fail():
+    try:
+        py.test.fail("hello")
+    except py.test.fail.Exception:
+        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
+        s = excinfo.exconly(tryshort=True)
+        assert s.startswith("Failed")
+
+def test_exception_printing_skip():
+    try:
+        py.test.skip("hello")
+    except py.test.skip.Exception:
+        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
+        s = excinfo.exconly(tryshort=True)
+        assert s.startswith("Skipped")
+
+def test_importorskip():
+    importorskip = py.test.importorskip
+    try:
+        sys = importorskip("sys")
+        assert sys == py.std.sys
+        #path = py.test.importorskip("os.path")
+        #assert path == py.std.os.path
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, 
+            "py.test.importorskip('alskdj')")
+        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x y z')")
+        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x=y')")
+        path = importorskip("py", minversion=".".join(py.__version__))
+        mod = py.std.types.ModuleType("hello123")
+        mod.__version__ = "1.3"
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, """
+            py.test.importorskip("hello123", minversion="5.0")
+        """)
+    except py.test.skip.Exception:
+        print(py.code.ExceptionInfo())
+        py.test.fail("spurious skip")
+
+def test_importorskip_imports_last_module_part():
+    import os
+    ospath = py.test.importorskip("os.path")
+    assert os.path == ospath
+
+
+def test_pytest_cmdline_main(testdir):
+    p = testdir.makepyfile("""
+        import sys
+        sys.path.insert(0, %r)
+        import py
+        def test_hello():
+            assert 1
+        if __name__ == '__main__':
+           py.test.cmdline.main([__file__])
+    """ % (str(py._pydir.dirpath())))
+    import subprocess
+    popen = subprocess.Popen([sys.executable, str(p)], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+    s = popen.stdout.read()
+    ret = popen.wait()
+    assert ret == 0
diff --git a/testing/root/test_py_imports.py b/testing/root/test_py_imports.py
index 01b504431..e3cb97e14 100644
--- a/testing/root/test_py_imports.py
+++ b/testing/root/test_py_imports.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_importall():
                 modpath = 'py.%s' % relpath
                 try:
                     check_import(modpath)
-                except py.test.exc.Skipped:
+                except py.test.skip.Exception:
                     pass
 
 def check_import(modpath):
diff --git a/testing/test_config.py b/testing/test_config.py
index 5c548587e..69a1f7e24 100644
--- a/testing/test_config.py
+++ b/testing/test_config.py
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@ class TestConfigAPI:
 
     def test_config_getvalueorskip(self, testdir):
         config = testdir.parseconfig()
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, 
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, 
             "config.getvalueorskip('hello')")
         verbose = config.getvalueorskip("verbose")
         assert verbose == config.option.verbose
         config.option.hello = None
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, 
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, 
             "config.getvalueorskip('hello')")
 
     def test_config_overwrite(self, testdir):
diff --git a/testing/test_deprecated_api.py b/testing/test_deprecated_api.py
index 8d624c880..bf513aee2 100644
--- a/testing/test_deprecated_api.py
+++ b/testing/test_deprecated_api.py
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class TestDisabled:
         l = modcol.collect()
         assert len(l) == 1
         recwarn.clear()
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, "modcol.setup()")
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, "modcol.setup()")
         recwarn.pop(DeprecationWarning)
 
     def test_disabled_class(self, recwarn, testdir):
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class TestDisabled:
         l = modcol.collect()
         assert len(l) == 1
         recwarn.clear()
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, "modcol.setup()")
+        py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, "modcol.setup()")
         recwarn.pop(DeprecationWarning)
 
     def test_disabled_class_functional(self, testdir):
diff --git a/testing/test_outcome.py b/testing/test_outcome.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 6cdc6409c..000000000
--- a/testing/test_outcome.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,83 +0,0 @@
-
-import py
-import sys
-
-class TestRaises:
-    def test_raises(self):
-        py.test.raises(ValueError, "int('qwe')")
-
-    def test_raises_exec(self):
-        py.test.raises(ValueError, "a,x = []") 
-
-    def test_raises_syntax_error(self):
-        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "qwe qwe qwe")
-
-    def test_raises_function(self):
-        py.test.raises(ValueError, int, 'hello')
-
-    def test_raises_callable_no_exception(self):
-        class A:
-            def __call__(self):
-                pass
-        try:
-            py.test.raises(ValueError, A())
-        except py.test.exc.ExceptionFailure:
-            pass
-
-def test_pytest_exit():
-    try:
-        py.test.exit("hello")
-    except:
-        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
-        assert excinfo.errisinstance(KeyboardInterrupt)
-
-def test_exception_printing_skip():
-    try:
-        py.test.skip("hello")
-    except Exception:
-        excinfo = py.code.ExceptionInfo()
-        s = excinfo.exconly(tryshort=True)
-        assert s.startswith("Skipped")
-
-def test_importorskip():
-    importorskip = py.test.importorskip
-    try:
-        sys = importorskip("sys")
-        assert sys == py.std.sys
-        #path = py.test.importorskip("os.path")
-        #assert path == py.std.os.path
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, 
-            "py.test.importorskip('alskdj')")
-        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x y z')")
-        py.test.raises(SyntaxError, "py.test.importorskip('x=y')")
-        path = importorskip("py", minversion=".".join(py.__version__))
-        mod = py.std.types.ModuleType("hello123")
-        mod.__version__ = "1.3"
-        py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, """
-            py.test.importorskip("hello123", minversion="5.0")
-        """)
-    except py.test.exc.Skipped:
-        print(py.code.ExceptionInfo())
-        py.test.fail("spurious skip")
-
-def test_importorskip_imports_last_module_part():
-    import os
-    ospath = py.test.importorskip("os.path")
-    assert os.path == ospath
-
-
-def test_pytest_cmdline_main(testdir):
-    p = testdir.makepyfile("""
-        import sys
-        sys.path.insert(0, %r)
-        import py
-        def test_hello():
-            assert 1
-        if __name__ == '__main__':
-           py.test.cmdline.main([__file__])
-    """ % (str(py._pydir.dirpath())))
-    import subprocess
-    popen = subprocess.Popen([sys.executable, str(p)], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
-    s = popen.stdout.read()
-    ret = popen.wait()
-    assert ret == 0
diff --git a/testing/test_pycollect.py b/testing/test_pycollect.py
index 331d9e4df..416bacbcb 100644
--- a/testing/test_pycollect.py
+++ b/testing/test_pycollect.py
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ def test_modulecol_roundtrip(testdir):
 
 class TestTracebackCutting:
     def test_skip_simple(self):
-        excinfo = py.test.raises(py.test.exc.Skipped, 'py.test.skip("xxx")')
+        excinfo = py.test.raises(py.test.skip.Exception, 'py.test.skip("xxx")')
         assert excinfo.traceback[-1].frame.code.name == "skip"
         assert excinfo.traceback[-1].ishidden()