$ for i in exit_0_test_todo.t exit_1_test_todo.t; do cat $i; echo "----------------"; prove --failures $i; echo "============"; prove --failures --ignore-exit $i; echo "============"; done use strict; use warnings; use Test::More tests => 1; TODO: { local $TODO = 'WIP'; is 1, 0, 'Tickety-boo'; }; exit 0; ---------------- exit_0_test_todo.t .. ok All tests successful. Files=1, Tests=1, 0 wallclock secs ( 0.01 usr 0.01 sys + 0.03 cusr 0.06 csys = 0.12 CPU) Result: PASS ============ exit_0_test_todo.t .. ok All tests successful. Files=1, Tests=1, 0 wallclock secs ( 0.02 usr 0.02 sys + 0.03 cusr 0.06 csys = 0.12 CPU) Result: PASS ============ use strict; use warnings; use Test::More tests => 1; TODO: { local $TODO = 'WIP'; is 1, 0, 'Tickety-boo'; }; exit 1; ---------------- exit_1_test_todo.t .. 1/1 # Looks like your test exited with 1 just after 1. exit_1_test_todo.t .. Dubious, test returned 1 (wstat 256, 0x100) All 1 subtests passed Test Summary Report ------------------- exit_1_test_todo.t (Wstat: 256 Tests: 1 Failed: 0) Non-zero exit status: 1 Files=1, Tests=1, 1 wallclock secs ( 0.03 usr 0.02 sys + 0.03 cusr 0.06 csys = 0.14 CPU) Result: FAIL ============ exit_1_test_todo.t .. 1/1 # Looks like your test exited with 1 just after 1. exit_1_test_todo.t .. ok All tests successful. Files=1, Tests=1, 0 wallclock secs ( 0.03 usr 0.00 sys + 0.06 cusr 0.03 csys = 0.12 CPU) Result: PASS ============