diff --git a/_pytest/fixtures.py b/_pytest/fixtures.py
index d475dfd1b..b588c312a 100644
--- a/_pytest/fixtures.py
+++ b/_pytest/fixtures.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from _pytest.compat import (
     getlocation, getfuncargnames,
     safe_getattr,
 )
-from _pytest.runner import fail
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail, TEST_OUTCOME
 from _pytest.compat import FuncargnamesCompatAttr
 
 if sys.version_info[:2] == (2, 6):
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def getfixturemarker(obj):
     exceptions."""
     try:
         return getattr(obj, "_pytestfixturefunction", None)
-    except Exception:
+    except TEST_OUTCOME:
         # some objects raise errors like request (from flask import request)
         # we don't expect them to be fixture functions
         return None
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ def pytest_fixture_setup(fixturedef, request):
     my_cache_key = request.param_index
     try:
         result = call_fixture_func(fixturefunc, request, kwargs)
-    except Exception:
+    except TEST_OUTCOME:
         fixturedef.cached_result = (None, my_cache_key, sys.exc_info())
         raise
     fixturedef.cached_result = (result, my_cache_key, None)
diff --git a/_pytest/main.py b/_pytest/main.py
index 274b39782..4bddf1e2d 100644
--- a/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/_pytest/main.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ except ImportError:
     from UserDict import DictMixin as MappingMixin
 
 from _pytest.config import directory_arg, UsageError, hookimpl
-from _pytest.runner import collect_one_node, exit
+from _pytest.runner import collect_one_node
+from _pytest.outcomes import exit
 
 tracebackcutdir = py.path.local(_pytest.__file__).dirpath()
 
diff --git a/_pytest/outcomes.py b/_pytest/outcomes.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ff5ef756d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/_pytest/outcomes.py
@@ -0,0 +1,140 @@
+"""
+exception classes and constants handling test outcomes
+as well as functions creating them
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, division, print_function
+import py
+import sys
+
+
+class OutcomeException(BaseException):
+    """ OutcomeException and its subclass instances indicate and
+        contain info about test and collection outcomes.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, msg=None, pytrace=True):
+        BaseException.__init__(self, msg)
+        self.msg = msg
+        self.pytrace = pytrace
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        if self.msg:
+            val = self.msg
+            if isinstance(val, bytes):
+                val = py._builtin._totext(val, errors='replace')
+            return val
+        return "<%s instance>" % (self.__class__.__name__,)
+    __str__ = __repr__
+
+
+TEST_OUTCOME = (OutcomeException, Exception)
+
+
+class Skipped(OutcomeException):
+    # XXX hackish: on 3k we fake to live in the builtins
+    # in order to have Skipped exception printing shorter/nicer
+    __module__ = 'builtins'
+
+    def __init__(self, msg=None, pytrace=True, allow_module_level=False):
+        OutcomeException.__init__(self, msg=msg, pytrace=pytrace)
+        self.allow_module_level = allow_module_level
+
+
+class Failed(OutcomeException):
+    """ raised from an explicit call to pytest.fail() """
+    __module__ = 'builtins'
+
+
+class Exit(KeyboardInterrupt):
+    """ raised for immediate program exits (no tracebacks/summaries)"""
+    def __init__(self, msg="unknown reason"):
+        self.msg = msg
+        KeyboardInterrupt.__init__(self, msg)
+
+# exposed helper methods
+
+
+def exit(msg):
+    """ exit testing process as if KeyboardInterrupt was triggered. """
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    raise Exit(msg)
+
+
+exit.Exception = Exit
+
+
+def skip(msg=""):
+    """ skip an executing test with the given message.  Note: it's usually
+    better to use the pytest.mark.skipif marker to declare a test to be
+    skipped under certain conditions like mismatching platforms or
+    dependencies.  See the pytest_skipping plugin for details.
+    """
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    raise Skipped(msg=msg)
+
+
+skip.Exception = Skipped
+
+
+def fail(msg="", pytrace=True):
+    """ explicitly fail an currently-executing test with the given Message.
+
+    :arg pytrace: if false the msg represents the full failure information
+                  and no python traceback will be reported.
+    """
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    raise Failed(msg=msg, pytrace=pytrace)
+
+
+fail.Exception = Failed
+
+
+class XFailed(fail.Exception):
+    """ raised from an explicit call to pytest.xfail() """
+
+
+def xfail(reason=""):
+    """ xfail an executing test or setup functions with the given reason."""
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    raise XFailed(reason)
+
+
+xfail.Exception = XFailed
+
+
+def importorskip(modname, minversion=None):
+    """ return imported module if it has at least "minversion" as its
+    __version__ attribute.  If no minversion is specified the a skip
+    is only triggered if the module can not be imported.
+    """
+    import warnings
+    __tracebackhide__ = True
+    compile(modname, '', 'eval')  # to catch syntaxerrors
+    should_skip = False
+
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        # make sure to ignore ImportWarnings that might happen because
+        # of existing directories with the same name we're trying to
+        # import but without a __init__.py file
+        warnings.simplefilter('ignore')
+        try:
+            __import__(modname)
+        except ImportError:
+            # Do not raise chained exception here(#1485)
+            should_skip = True
+    if should_skip:
+        raise Skipped("could not import %r" % (modname,), allow_module_level=True)
+    mod = sys.modules[modname]
+    if minversion is None:
+        return mod
+    verattr = getattr(mod, '__version__', None)
+    if minversion is not None:
+        try:
+            from pkg_resources import parse_version as pv
+        except ImportError:
+            raise Skipped("we have a required version for %r but can not import "
+                          "pkg_resources to parse version strings." % (modname,),
+                          allow_module_level=True)
+        if verattr is None or pv(verattr) < pv(minversion):
+            raise Skipped("module %r has __version__ %r, required is: %r" % (
+                          modname, verattr, minversion), allow_module_level=True)
+    return mod
diff --git a/_pytest/python.py b/_pytest/python.py
index 267372888..e7bb9ad62 100644
--- a/_pytest/python.py
+++ b/_pytest/python.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ from _pytest.compat import (
     get_real_func, getfslineno, safe_getattr,
     safe_str, getlocation, enum,
 )
-from _pytest.runner import fail
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 from _pytest.mark import transfer_markers
 
 cutdir1 = py.path.local(pluggy.__file__.rstrip("oc"))
diff --git a/_pytest/python_api.py b/_pytest/python_api.py
index 176aff590..051769398 100644
--- a/_pytest/python_api.py
+++ b/_pytest/python_api.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import sys
 import py
 
 from _pytest.compat import isclass, izip
-from _pytest.runner import fail
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 import _pytest._code
 
 # builtin pytest.approx helper
diff --git a/_pytest/recwarn.py b/_pytest/recwarn.py
index b9938752c..c9fa872c0 100644
--- a/_pytest/recwarn.py
+++ b/_pytest/recwarn.py
@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import _pytest._code
 import py
 import sys
 import warnings
+
 from _pytest.fixtures import yield_fixture
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail
 
 
 @yield_fixture
@@ -197,7 +199,6 @@ class WarningsChecker(WarningsRecorder):
                 if not any(issubclass(r.category, self.expected_warning)
                            for r in self):
                     __tracebackhide__ = True
-                    from _pytest.runner import fail
                     fail("DID NOT WARN. No warnings of type {0} was emitted. "
                          "The list of emitted warnings is: {1}.".format(
                              self.expected_warning,
diff --git a/_pytest/runner.py b/_pytest/runner.py
index b5829f46d..a1daa9761 100644
--- a/_pytest/runner.py
+++ b/_pytest/runner.py
@@ -8,11 +8,12 @@ from time import time
 
 import py
 from _pytest._code.code import TerminalRepr, ExceptionInfo
-
+from _pytest.outcomes import skip, Skipped, TEST_OUTCOME
 
 #
 # pytest plugin hooks
 
+
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     group = parser.getgroup("terminal reporting", "reporting", after="general")
     group.addoption('--durations',
@@ -445,7 +446,7 @@ class SetupState(object):
             fin = finalizers.pop()
             try:
                 fin()
-            except Exception:
+            except TEST_OUTCOME:
                 # XXX Only first exception will be seen by user,
                 #     ideally all should be reported.
                 if exc is None:
@@ -492,7 +493,7 @@ class SetupState(object):
             self.stack.append(col)
             try:
                 col.setup()
-            except Exception:
+            except TEST_OUTCOME:
                 col._prepare_exc = sys.exc_info()
                 raise
 
@@ -505,126 +506,3 @@ def collect_one_node(collector):
     if call and check_interactive_exception(call, rep):
         ihook.pytest_exception_interact(node=collector, call=call, report=rep)
     return rep
-
-
-# =============================================================
-# Test OutcomeExceptions and helpers for creating them.
-
-
-class OutcomeException(Exception):
-    """ OutcomeException and its subclass instances indicate and
-        contain info about test and collection outcomes.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, msg=None, pytrace=True):
-        Exception.__init__(self, msg)
-        self.msg = msg
-        self.pytrace = pytrace
-
-    def __repr__(self):
-        if self.msg:
-            val = self.msg
-            if isinstance(val, bytes):
-                val = py._builtin._totext(val, errors='replace')
-            return val
-        return "<%s instance>" % (self.__class__.__name__,)
-    __str__ = __repr__
-
-
-class Skipped(OutcomeException):
-    # XXX hackish: on 3k we fake to live in the builtins
-    # in order to have Skipped exception printing shorter/nicer
-    __module__ = 'builtins'
-
-    def __init__(self, msg=None, pytrace=True, allow_module_level=False):
-        OutcomeException.__init__(self, msg=msg, pytrace=pytrace)
-        self.allow_module_level = allow_module_level
-
-
-class Failed(OutcomeException):
-    """ raised from an explicit call to pytest.fail() """
-    __module__ = 'builtins'
-
-
-class Exit(KeyboardInterrupt):
-    """ raised for immediate program exits (no tracebacks/summaries)"""
-
-    def __init__(self, msg="unknown reason"):
-        self.msg = msg
-        KeyboardInterrupt.__init__(self, msg)
-
-# exposed helper methods
-
-
-def exit(msg):
-    """ exit testing process as if KeyboardInterrupt was triggered. """
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
-    raise Exit(msg)
-
-
-exit.Exception = Exit
-
-
-def skip(msg=""):
-    """ skip an executing test with the given message.  Note: it's usually
-    better to use the pytest.mark.skipif marker to declare a test to be
-    skipped under certain conditions like mismatching platforms or
-    dependencies.  See the pytest_skipping plugin for details.
-    """
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
-    raise Skipped(msg=msg)
-
-
-skip.Exception = Skipped
-
-
-def fail(msg="", pytrace=True):
-    """ explicitly fail an currently-executing test with the given Message.
-
-    :arg pytrace: if false the msg represents the full failure information
-                  and no python traceback will be reported.
-    """
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
-    raise Failed(msg=msg, pytrace=pytrace)
-
-
-fail.Exception = Failed
-
-
-def importorskip(modname, minversion=None):
-    """ return imported module if it has at least "minversion" as its
-    __version__ attribute.  If no minversion is specified the a skip
-    is only triggered if the module can not be imported.
-    """
-    import warnings
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
-    compile(modname, '', 'eval')  # to catch syntaxerrors
-    should_skip = False
-
-    with warnings.catch_warnings():
-        # make sure to ignore ImportWarnings that might happen because
-        # of existing directories with the same name we're trying to
-        # import but without a __init__.py file
-        warnings.simplefilter('ignore')
-        try:
-            __import__(modname)
-        except ImportError:
-            # Do not raise chained exception here(#1485)
-            should_skip = True
-    if should_skip:
-        raise Skipped("could not import %r" % (modname,), allow_module_level=True)
-    mod = sys.modules[modname]
-    if minversion is None:
-        return mod
-    verattr = getattr(mod, '__version__', None)
-    if minversion is not None:
-        try:
-            from pkg_resources import parse_version as pv
-        except ImportError:
-            raise Skipped("we have a required version for %r but can not import "
-                          "pkg_resources to parse version strings." % (modname,),
-                          allow_module_level=True)
-        if verattr is None or pv(verattr) < pv(minversion):
-            raise Skipped("module %r has __version__ %r, required is: %r" % (
-                          modname, verattr, minversion), allow_module_level=True)
-    return mod
diff --git a/_pytest/skipping.py b/_pytest/skipping.py
index b11aea801..2fd61448a 100644
--- a/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import traceback
 import py
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
 from _pytest.mark import MarkInfo, MarkDecorator
-from _pytest.runner import fail, skip
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail, skip, xfail, TEST_OUTCOME
 
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
         def nop(*args, **kwargs):
             pass
 
-        nop.Exception = XFailed
+        nop.Exception = xfail.Exception
         setattr(pytest, "xfail", nop)
 
     config.addinivalue_line("markers",
@@ -60,19 +60,6 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
                             )
 
 
-class XFailed(fail.Exception):
-    """ raised from an explicit call to pytest.xfail() """
-
-
-def xfail(reason=""):
-    """ xfail an executing test or setup functions with the given reason."""
-    __tracebackhide__ = True
-    raise XFailed(reason)
-
-
-xfail.Exception = XFailed
-
-
 class MarkEvaluator:
     def __init__(self, item, name):
         self.item = item
@@ -98,7 +85,7 @@ class MarkEvaluator:
     def istrue(self):
         try:
             return self._istrue()
-        except Exception:
+        except TEST_OUTCOME:
             self.exc = sys.exc_info()
             if isinstance(self.exc[1], SyntaxError):
                 msg = [" " * (self.exc[1].offset + 4) + "^", ]
diff --git a/_pytest/unittest.py b/_pytest/unittest.py
index 3c473c6bd..585f81472 100644
--- a/_pytest/unittest.py
+++ b/_pytest/unittest.py
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import traceback
 # for transferring markers
 import _pytest._code
 from _pytest.config import hookimpl
-from _pytest.runner import fail, skip
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail, skip, xfail
 from _pytest.python import transfer_markers, Class, Module, Function
-from _pytest.skipping import MarkEvaluator, xfail
+from _pytest.skipping import MarkEvaluator
 
 
 def pytest_pycollect_makeitem(collector, name, obj):
diff --git a/changelog/580.feature b/changelog/580.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5245c7341
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/580.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Exceptions raised by ``pytest.fail``, ``pytest.skip`` and ``pytest.xfail`` now subclass BaseException, making them harder to be caught unintentionally by normal code.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/doc/en/builtin.rst b/doc/en/builtin.rst
index af0dd9a74..a3b75b9b2 100644
--- a/doc/en/builtin.rst
+++ b/doc/en/builtin.rst
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ You can use the following functions in your test, fixture or setup
 functions to force a certain test outcome.  Note that most often
 you can rather use declarative marks, see :ref:`skipping`.
 
-.. autofunction:: _pytest.runner.fail
-.. autofunction:: _pytest.runner.skip
-.. autofunction:: _pytest.runner.importorskip
-.. autofunction:: _pytest.skipping.xfail
-.. autofunction:: _pytest.runner.exit
+.. autofunction:: _pytest.outcomes.fail
+.. autofunction:: _pytest.outcomes.skip
+.. autofunction:: _pytest.outcomes.importorskip
+.. autofunction:: _pytest.outcomes.xfail
+.. autofunction:: _pytest.outcomes.exit
 
 Fixtures and requests
 -----------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/pytest.py b/pytest.py
index da6b64910..1c914a6ed 100644
--- a/pytest.py
+++ b/pytest.py
@@ -16,9 +16,8 @@ from _pytest.freeze_support import freeze_includes
 from _pytest import __version__
 from _pytest.debugging import pytestPDB as __pytestPDB
 from _pytest.recwarn import warns, deprecated_call
-from _pytest.runner import fail, skip, importorskip, exit
+from _pytest.outcomes import fail, skip, importorskip, exit, xfail
 from _pytest.mark import MARK_GEN as mark, param
-from _pytest.skipping import xfail
 from _pytest.main import Item, Collector, File, Session
 from _pytest.fixtures import fillfixtures as _fillfuncargs
 from _pytest.python import (
diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index ae081b4f0..1ab449ba3 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import os
 import py
 import pytest
 import sys
-from _pytest import runner, main
+from _pytest import runner, main, outcomes
 
 
 class TestSetupState(object):
@@ -449,10 +449,18 @@ def test_runtest_in_module_ordering(testdir):
 
 
 def test_outcomeexception_exceptionattributes():
-    outcome = runner.OutcomeException('test')
+    outcome = outcomes.OutcomeException('test')
     assert outcome.args[0] == outcome.msg
 
 
+def test_outcomeexception_passes_except_Exception():
+    with pytest.raises(outcomes.OutcomeException):
+        try:
+            raise outcomes.OutcomeException('test')
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
 def test_pytest_exit():
     try:
         pytest.exit("hello")