diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 44673f37..63d1cad5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+<Version> <Date>
+===================
+
+## Enhancements
+
+* Print the exit status explicitly when it's not a successful build so it's easier figure out SimpleCov failed the build in the output.
+
+
 0.16.1 (2018-03-16)
 ===================
 
diff --git a/features/minimum_coverage.feature b/features/minimum_coverage.feature
index 1f8dd1c8..f51eccf7 100644
--- a/features/minimum_coverage.feature
+++ b/features/minimum_coverage.feature
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Feature:
     When I run `bundle exec rake test`
     Then the exit status should not be 0
     And the output should contain "Coverage (88.10%) is below the expected minimum coverage (90.00%)."
+    And the output should contain "SimpleCov failed with exit 2"
 
   Scenario:
     Given SimpleCov for Test/Unit is configured with:
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ Feature:
     When I run `bundle exec rake test`
     Then the exit status should not be 0
     And the output should contain "Coverage (88.10%) is below the expected minimum coverage (88.11%)."
+    And the output should contain "SimpleCov failed with exit 2"
 
   Scenario:
     Given SimpleCov for Test/Unit is configured with:
diff --git a/lib/simplecov.rb b/lib/simplecov.rb
index 11ab2db3..e0223008 100644
--- a/lib/simplecov.rb
+++ b/lib/simplecov.rb
@@ -203,7 +203,10 @@ def run_exit_tasks!
 
       # Force exit with stored status (see github issue #5)
       # unless it's nil or 0 (see github issue #281)
-      Kernel.exit exit_status if exit_status && exit_status > 0
+      if exit_status && exit_status > 0
+        $stderr.printf("SimpleCov failed with exit %d", exit_status)
+        Kernel.exit exit_status
+      end
     end
 
     # @api private