diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
index 8c604ba561ce..84054925c833 100755
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/audit.rb
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ def audit
 
     if errors
       puts "#{problem_count} problems in #{brew_count} brews"
-      exit 1
+      Homebrew.failed = true
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/bottle.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/bottle.rb
index b226d3c37bf8..604df4503fe0 100755
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/bottle.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/bottle.rb
@@ -4,8 +4,16 @@
 
 module Homebrew extend self
   def bottle_formula f
-    return onoe "Formula not installed: #{f.name}" unless f.installed?
-    return onoe "Formula not installed with '--build-bottle': #{f.name}" unless built_bottle? f
+    unless f.installed?
+      onoe "Formula not installed: #{f.name}"
+      Homebrew.failed = true
+      return
+    end
+
+    unless built_bottle? f
+      onoe "Formula not installed with '--build-bottle': #{f.name}"
+      Homebrew.failed = true
+    end
 
     directory = Pathname.pwd
     filename = bottle_filename f
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
index a8f85d444964..632819e9635e 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/doctor.rb
@@ -879,22 +879,19 @@ def check_os_version
 
 module Homebrew extend self
   def doctor
-    raring_to_brew = true
-
     checks = Checks.new
 
     checks.methods.select{ |method| method =~ /^check_/ }.sort.each do |method|
       out = checks.send(method)
       unless out.nil? or out.empty?
-        puts unless raring_to_brew
+        puts unless Homebrew.failed?
         lines = out.to_s.split('\n')
         opoo lines.shift
         puts lines
-        raring_to_brew = false
+        Homebrew.failed = true
       end
     end
 
-    puts "Your system is raring to brew." if raring_to_brew
-    exit raring_to_brew ? 0 : 1
+    puts "Your system is raring to brew." unless Homebrew.failed?
   end
 end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
index e4ffe3268260..ed5826da09f8 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/install.rb
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ def install_formulae formulae
           fi.finish
         rescue CannotInstallFormulaError => e
           onoe e.message
+          Homebrew.failed = true
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
index 9b3e93adf1d1..af774f7e6a53 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/test.rb
@@ -13,21 +13,24 @@ def test
       # Cannot test uninstalled formulae
       unless f.installed?
         puts "#{f.name} not installed"
+        Homebrew.failed = true
         next
       end
 
       # Cannot test formulae without a test method
       unless f.respond_to? :test
         puts "#{f.name} defines no test"
+        Homebrew.failed = true
         next
       end
 
       puts "Testing #{f.name}"
       begin
         # tests can also return false to indicate failure
-        puts "#{f.name}: failed" if f.test == false
+        raise if f.test == false
       rescue
         puts "#{f.name}: failed"
+        Homebrew.failed = true
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/uninstall.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/uninstall.rb
index cddb8ac65c0b..ce719a3e943e 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/uninstall.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/uninstall.rb
@@ -35,5 +35,6 @@ def uninstall
   rescue MultipleVersionsInstalledError => e
     onoe e
     puts "Use `brew remove --force #{e.name}` to remove all versions."
+    Homebrew.failed = true
   end
 end
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
index 671188a3cc9d..7b63e8039249 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/upgrade.rb
@@ -67,9 +67,11 @@ def upgrade_formula f
     installer.finish
   rescue CannotInstallFormulaError => e
     onoe e
+    Homebrew.failed = true
   rescue BuildError => e
     e.dump
     puts
+    Homebrew.failed = true
   ensure
     # restore previous installation state if build failed
     outdated_keg.link if outdated_keg and not f.installed? rescue nil
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/global.rb b/Library/Homebrew/global.rb
index b29ab0ff9f27..92560859c4a3 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/global.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/global.rb
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ def mkpath
 require 'fileutils'
 module Homebrew extend self
   include FileUtils
+
+  attr_accessor :failed
+  alias_method :failed?, :failed
 end
 
 FORMULA_META_FILES = %w[README README.md ChangeLog CHANGES COPYING LICENSE LICENCE COPYRIGHT AUTHORS]
diff --git a/bin/brew b/bin/brew
index df0c45d4f4be..eba542724880 100755
--- a/bin/brew
+++ b/bin/brew
@@ -112,4 +112,6 @@ rescue Exception => e
   puts "    #{Tty.em}#{ISSUES_URL}#{Tty.reset}"
   puts e.backtrace
   exit 1
+else
+  exit 1 if Homebrew.failed?
 end