diff --git a/features/configuration/error_exit_code.feature b/features/configuration/error_exit_code.feature
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f64bcdef90
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/configuration/error_exit_code.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+Feature: error exit code
+
+  Use the `error_exit_code` option to set a custom exit code when RSpec fails outside an example.
+
+  ```ruby
+  RSpec.configure { |c| c.error_exit_code = 42 }
+  ```
+
+  Background:
+    Given a file named "spec/spec_helper.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      RSpec.configure { |c| c.error_exit_code = 42 }
+      """
+
+  Scenario: A erroring spec with the default exit code
+    Given a file named "spec/typo_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      RSpec.escribe "something" do # intentional typo
+        it "works" do
+          true
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec spec/typo_spec.rb`
+    Then the exit status should be 1
+
+  Scenario: A erroring spec with a custom exit code
+    Given a file named "spec/typo_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      require 'spec_helper'
+      RSpec.escribe "something" do # intentional typo
+        it "works" do
+          true
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec spec/typo_spec.rb`
+    And  the exit status should be 42
+
+
+  Scenario: Success running specs spec with a custom error exit code defined
+    Given a file named "spec/example_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      require 'spec_helper'
+      RSpec.describe "something" do
+        it "works" do
+          true
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec spec/example_spec.rb`
+    Then the exit status should be 0
diff --git a/features/configuration/failure_exit_code.feature b/features/configuration/failure_exit_code.feature
index a61fcdd049..d71f203576 100644
--- a/features/configuration/failure_exit_code.feature
+++ b/features/configuration/failure_exit_code.feature
@@ -37,6 +37,32 @@ Feature: failure exit code
     When I run `rspec spec/example_spec.rb`
     Then the exit status should be 42
 
+  Scenario: An error running specs spec with a custom exit code
+    Given a file named "spec/typo_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      require 'spec_helper'
+      RSpec.escribe "something" do # intentional typo
+        it "works" do
+          true
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec spec/typo_spec.rb`
+    Then the exit status should be 42
+
+  Scenario: Success running specs spec with a custom exit code defined
+    Given a file named "spec/example_spec.rb" with:
+      """ruby
+      require 'spec_helper'
+      RSpec.describe "something" do
+        it "works" do
+          true
+        end
+      end
+      """
+    When I run `rspec spec/example_spec.rb`
+    Then the exit status should be 0
+
   Scenario: Exit with the default exit code when an `at_exit` hook is added upstream
     Given a file named "exit_at_spec.rb" with:
       """ruby
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
index 120a5656f6..bb38a8de4f 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/configuration.rb
@@ -242,6 +242,11 @@ def fail_fast=(value)
       # @return [Integer]
       add_setting :failure_exit_code
 
+      # @macro add_setting
+      # The exit code to return if there are any errors outside examples (default: failure_exit_code)
+      # @return [Integer]
+      add_setting :error_exit_code
+
       # @macro add_setting
       # Whether or not to fail when there are no RSpec examples (default: false).
       # @return [Boolean]
@@ -523,6 +528,7 @@ def initialize
         @pattern = '**{,/*/**}/*_spec.rb'
         @exclude_pattern = ''
         @failure_exit_code = 1
+        @error_exit_code = nil # so it can be overridden by failure exit code
         @fail_if_no_examples = false
         @spec_files_loaded = false
 
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/drb.rb b/lib/rspec/core/drb.rb
index c0e59291c9..e44db97c3b 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/drb.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/drb.rb
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ def options
         argv << "--order"        << @submitted_options[:order]               if @submitted_options[:order]
 
         add_failure_exit_code(argv)
+        add_error_exit_code(argv)
         add_full_description(argv)
         add_filter(argv, :inclusion, @filter_manager.inclusions)
         add_filter(argv, :exclusion, @filter_manager.exclusions)
@@ -67,6 +68,12 @@ def add_failure_exit_code(argv)
         argv << "--failure-exit-code" << @submitted_options[:failure_exit_code].to_s
       end
 
+      def add_error_exit_code(argv)
+        return unless @submitted_options[:error_exit_code]
+
+        argv << "--error-exit-code" << @submitted_options[:error_exit_code].to_s
+      end
+
       def add_full_description(argv)
         return unless @submitted_options[:full_description]
 
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/invocations.rb b/lib/rspec/core/invocations.rb
index 7e5049f686..4719085b36 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/invocations.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/invocations.rb
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def call(options, err, out)
             runner, options.args, formatter
           )
 
-          success ? 0 : runner.configuration.failure_exit_code
+          runner.exit_code(success)
         end
 
       private
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/option_parser.rb b/lib/rspec/core/option_parser.rb
index d63ef18b3f..c962374510 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/option_parser.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/option_parser.rb
@@ -95,6 +95,11 @@ def parser(options)
           options[:failure_exit_code] = code
         end
 
+        parser.on('--error-exit-code CODE', Integer,
+                  'Override the exit code used when there are errors loading or running specs outside of examples.') do |code|
+          options[:error_exit_code] = code
+        end
+
         parser.on('-X', '--[no-]drb', 'Run examples via DRb.') do |use_drb|
           options[:drb] = use_drb
           options[:runner] = RSpec::Core::Invocations::DRbWithFallback.new if use_drb
diff --git a/lib/rspec/core/runner.rb b/lib/rspec/core/runner.rb
index 862511a293..caf9c871af 100644
--- a/lib/rspec/core/runner.rb
+++ b/lib/rspec/core/runner.rb
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ def initialize(options, configuration=RSpec.configuration, world=RSpec.world)
       # @param out [IO] output stream
       def run(err, out)
         setup(err, out)
-        return @configuration.reporter.exit_early(@configuration.failure_exit_code) if RSpec.world.wants_to_quit
+        return @configuration.reporter.exit_early(exit_code) if RSpec.world.wants_to_quit
 
         run_specs(@world.ordered_example_groups).tap do
           persist_example_statuses
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def setup(err, out)
       #   failed.
       def run_specs(example_groups)
         examples_count = @world.example_count(example_groups)
-        success = @configuration.reporter.report(examples_count) do |reporter|
+        examples_passed = @configuration.reporter.report(examples_count) do |reporter|
           @configuration.with_suite_hooks do
             if examples_count == 0 && @configuration.fail_if_no_examples
               return @configuration.failure_exit_code
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ def run_specs(example_groups)
 
             example_groups.map { |g| g.run(reporter) }.all?
           end
-        end && !@world.non_example_failure
+        end
 
-        success ? 0 : @configuration.failure_exit_code
+        exit_code(examples_passed)
       end
 
       # @private
@@ -186,6 +186,14 @@ def self.handle_interrupt
         end
       end
 
+      # @private
+      def exit_code(examples_passed=false)
+        return @configuration.error_exit_code || @configuration.failure_exit_code if @world.non_example_failure
+        return @configuration.failure_exit_code unless examples_passed
+
+        0
+      end
+
     private
 
       def persist_example_statuses
diff --git a/spec/integration/spec_file_load_errors_spec.rb b/spec/integration/spec_file_load_errors_spec.rb
index 2e017504ee..db897b398d 100644
--- a/spec/integration/spec_file_load_errors_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/spec_file_load_errors_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   include FormatterSupport
 
   let(:failure_exit_code) { rand(97) + 2 } # 2..99
+  let(:error_exit_code) { failure_exit_code + 1 } # 3..100
 
   if RSpec::Support::Ruby.jruby_9000?
     let(:spec_line_suffix) { ":in `<main>'" }
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
       c.filter_gems_from_backtrace "gems/aruba"
       c.backtrace_exclusion_patterns << %r{/rspec-core/spec/} << %r{rspec_with_simplecov}
       c.failure_exit_code = failure_exit_code
+      c.error_exit_code = error_exit_code
     end
   end
 
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@
     write_file_formatted "helper_with_error.rb", "raise 'boom'"
 
     run_command "--require ./helper_with_error"
-    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(failure_exit_code)
+    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(error_exit_code)
     output = normalize_durations(last_cmd_stdout)
     expect(output).to eq unindent(<<-EOS)
 
@@ -60,7 +62,7 @@
     "
 
     run_command "--require ./helper_with_error 1_spec.rb"
-    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(failure_exit_code)
+    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(error_exit_code)
     output = normalize_durations(last_cmd_stdout)
     expect(output).to eq unindent(<<-EOS)
 
@@ -109,7 +111,7 @@
     "
 
     run_command "1_spec.rb 2_spec.rb 3_spec.rb"
-    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(failure_exit_code)
+    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(error_exit_code)
     output = normalize_durations(last_cmd_stdout)
     expect(output).to eq unindent(<<-EOS)
 
diff --git a/spec/integration/suite_hooks_errors_spec.rb b/spec/integration/suite_hooks_errors_spec.rb
index b4c711cd62..b4a862d2fe 100644
--- a/spec/integration/suite_hooks_errors_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/integration/suite_hooks_errors_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   include FormatterSupport
 
   let(:failure_exit_code) { rand(97) + 2 } # 2..99
+  let(:error_exit_code) { failure_exit_code + 2 } # 4..101
 
   if RSpec::Support::Ruby.jruby_9000?
     let(:spec_line_suffix) { ":in `block in (root)'" }
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
       c.filter_gems_from_backtrace "gems/aruba"
       c.backtrace_exclusion_patterns << %r{/rspec-core/spec/} << %r{rspec_with_simplecov}
       c.failure_exit_code = failure_exit_code
+      c.error_exit_code = error_exit_code
     end
   end
 
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ def run_spec_expecting_non_zero(before_or_after)
     "
 
     run_command "the_spec.rb"
-    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(failure_exit_code)
+    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(error_exit_code)
     normalize_durations(last_cmd_stdout)
   end
 
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ def run_spec_expecting_non_zero(before_or_after)
     "
 
     run_command "the_spec.rb"
-    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(failure_exit_code)
+    expect(last_cmd_exit_status).to eq(error_exit_code)
     output = normalize_durations(last_cmd_stdout)
 
     expect(output).to eq unindent(<<-EOS)
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_options_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_options_spec.rb
index ab7ee587d2..b077cb37f3 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_options_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_options_spec.rb
@@ -321,6 +321,18 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "--error-exit-code" do
+    it "sets :error_exit_code" do
+      expect(parse_options('--error-exit-code', '0')).to include(:error_exit_code => 0)
+      expect(parse_options('--error-exit-code', '1')).to include(:error_exit_code => 1)
+      expect(parse_options('--error-exit-code', '2')).to include(:error_exit_code => 2)
+    end
+
+    it "overrides previous :error_exit_code" do
+      expect(parse_options('--error-exit-code', '2', '--error-exit-code', '3')).to include(:error_exit_code => 3)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "--dry-run" do
     it "defaults to nil" do
       expect(parse_options[:dry_run]).to be(nil)
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
index 3f2430091a..6c1692a100 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core/configuration_spec.rb
@@ -2862,6 +2862,28 @@ def emulate_not_configured_expectation_framework
       end
     end
 
+    describe '#failure_exit_code' do
+      it 'defaults to 1' do
+        expect(config.failure_exit_code).to eq 1
+      end
+
+      it 'is configurable' do
+        config.failure_exit_code = 2
+        expect(config.failure_exit_code).to eq 2
+      end
+    end
+
+    describe '#error_exit_code' do
+      it 'defaults to nil' do
+        expect(config.error_exit_code).to eq nil
+      end
+
+      it 'is configurable' do
+        config.error_exit_code = 2
+        expect(config.error_exit_code).to eq 2
+      end
+    end
+
     describe "#shared_context_metadata_behavior" do
       it "defaults to :trigger_inclusion for backwards compatibility" do
         expect(config.shared_context_metadata_behavior).to eq :trigger_inclusion
diff --git a/spec/rspec/core/runner_spec.rb b/spec/rspec/core/runner_spec.rb
index 0567453642..4b0804e472 100644
--- a/spec/rspec/core/runner_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rspec/core/runner_spec.rb
@@ -232,6 +232,51 @@ def interrupt
       end
     end
 
+    describe '#exit_code' do
+      let(:world) { World.new }
+      let(:config) { Configuration.new }
+      let(:runner) { Runner.new({}, config, world) }
+
+      it 'defaults to 1' do
+        expect(runner.exit_code).to eq 1
+      end
+
+      it 'is failure_exit_code by default' do
+        config.failure_exit_code = 2
+        expect(runner.exit_code).to eq 2
+      end
+
+      it 'is failure_exit_code when world is errored by default' do
+        world.non_example_failure = true
+        config.failure_exit_code = 2
+        expect(runner.exit_code).to eq 2
+      end
+
+      it 'is error_exit_code when world is errored by and both are defined' do
+        world.non_example_failure = true
+        config.failure_exit_code = 2
+        config.error_exit_code = 3
+        expect(runner.exit_code).to eq 3
+      end
+
+      it 'is error_exit_code when world is errored by and failure exit code is not defined' do
+        world.non_example_failure = true
+        config.error_exit_code = 3
+        expect(runner.exit_code).to eq 3
+      end
+
+      it 'can be given success' do
+        config.error_exit_code = 3
+        expect(runner.exit_code(true)).to eq 0
+      end
+
+      it 'can be given success, but non_example_failure=true will still cause an error code' do
+        world.non_example_failure = true
+        config.error_exit_code = 3
+        expect(runner.exit_code(true)).to eq 3
+      end
+    end
+
     describe ".invoke" do
       let(:runner) { RSpec::Core::Runner }
 
@@ -287,7 +332,6 @@ def interrupt
           expect(process_proxy).to have_received(:run).with(err, out)
         end
       end
-
     end
 
     context "when run" do