diff --git a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/example.rb b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
index ffa54a5ca..d3b891fa9 100644
--- a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/example.rb
@@ -231,8 +231,13 @@ def example_group
         @example_group_class
       end
 
-      alias_method :pending?, :pending
-      alias_method :skipped?, :skip
+      def pending?
+        !!pending
+      end
+
+      def skipped?
+        !!skip
+      end
 
       # @api private
       # instance_execs the block passed to the constructor in the context of
@@ -577,7 +582,9 @@ class ExecutionResult
         #   this indicates whether or not it now passes.
         attr_accessor :pending_fixed
 
-        alias pending_fixed? pending_fixed
+        def pending_fixed?
+          !!pending_fixed
+        end
 
         # @return [Boolean] Indicates if the example was completely skipped
         #   (typically done via `:skip` metadata or the `skip` method). Skipped examples
diff --git a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_execution_result_spec.rb b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_execution_result_spec.rb
index da60e6240..8cd422969 100644
--- a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_execution_result_spec.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_execution_result_spec.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class Example
 
         it 'provides a `pending_fixed?` predicate' do
           er = ExecutionResult.new
-          expect { er.pending_fixed = true }.to change(er, :pending_fixed?).to(true)
+          expect { er.pending_fixed = true }.to change(er, :pending_fixed?).from(false).to(true)
         end
 
         describe "backwards compatibility" do
diff --git a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_spec.rb b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_spec.rb
index 4e7dee424..47e40a960 100644
--- a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_spec.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/example_spec.rb
@@ -778,7 +778,18 @@ def expect_pending_result(example)
         expect_pending_result(group.examples.last)
       end
     end
+  end
+
+  describe "#pending?" do
+    it "only returns true / false values" do
+      group = describe_successfully do
+        example("", :pending => "a message thats ignored") { fail }
+        example { }
+      end
 
+      expect(group.examples[0].pending?).to eq true
+      expect(group.examples[1].pending?).to eq false
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#skip" do
@@ -847,6 +858,18 @@ def expect_pending_result(example)
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#skipped?" do
+    it "only returns true / false values" do
+      group = describe_successfully do
+        example("", :skip => "a message thats ignored") { fail }
+        example { }
+      end
+
+      expect(group.examples[0].skipped?).to eq true
+      expect(group.examples[1].skipped?).to eq false
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "timing" do
     it "uses RSpec::Core::Time as to not be affected by changes to time in examples" do
       reporter = double(:reporter).as_null_object