diff --git a/roundup-1-test.sh b/roundup-1-test.sh
index 87c5d4f..8122560 100644
--- a/roundup-1-test.sh
+++ b/roundup-1-test.sh
@@ -46,3 +46,8 @@ it_exits_non_zero() {
 it_survives_edge_cases() {
     rup edge
 }
+
+it_exits_non_zero_on_broken_before () {
+    status=$(set +e ; rup roundup-5 >/dev/null ; echo $?)
+    test 2 -eq $status
+}
diff --git a/roundup-before-test.sh b/roundup-before-test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aac7c93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/roundup-before-test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env roundup
+#
+# This Will Fail
+# --------------
+#
+# The before function 
+describe "roundup before trace"
+
+# This `before` function is run before it_works. The `false` will simulate
+# an error. Hence, `it_works` should not be called at all, but it should be
+# marked as failed and the `before` trace should be displayed.
+before () {
+	false
+}
+
+# A trivial and correct test case. But because `before` is broken, this 
+# testcase will fail as well.
+it_works () {
+	true
+}
diff --git a/roundup.sh b/roundup.sh
index 9275a5b..0440271 100755
--- a/roundup.sh
+++ b/roundup.sh
@@ -242,13 +242,22 @@ do
             # Any number of things are possible in `before`, `after`, and the
             # test.  Drop into an subshell to contain operations that may throw
             # off roundup; such as `cd`.
+            # Momentarily turn off auto-fail to give us access to the tests
+            # exit status in `$?` for capturing.
+            set +e
             (
+                # exit subshell with return code of last failing command. This
+                # is needed to see the return code 253 on failed assumptions.
+                # But, only do this if the error handling is activated.
+                set -E
+                trap 'rc=$?; set +x; set -o | grep "errexit.*on" >/dev/null && exit $rc' ERR
+
                 # Output `before` trace to temporary file. If `before` runs cleanly,
                 # the trace will be overwritten by the actual test case below.
                 {
                     # redirect tracing output of `before` into file.
                     {
-                        set -x
+                        set -xe
                         # If `before` wasn't redefined, then this is `:`.
                         before
                     } &>"$roundup_tmp/$roundup_test_name"
@@ -256,15 +265,6 @@ do
                     set +x
                 } &>/dev/null
 
-                # exit subshell with return code of last failing command. This
-                # is needed to see the return code 253 on failed assumptions.
-                # But, only do this if the error handling is activated.
-                set -E
-                trap 'rc=$?; set +x; set -o | grep "errexit.*on" >/dev/null && exit $rc' ERR
-
-                # If `before` wasn't redefined, then this is `:`.
-                before
-
                 # Momentarily turn off auto-fail to give us access to the tests
                 # exit status in `$?` for capturing.
                 set +e
@@ -284,21 +284,27 @@ do
                 # instead.
                 roundup_result=$?
 
-                # It's safe to return to normal operation.
-                set -e
-
                 # If `after` wasn't redefined, then this runs `:`.
                 after
 
-                # This is the final step of a test.  Print its pass/fail signal
-                # and name.
-                if [ "$roundup_result" -ne 0 ]
-                then printf "f"
-                else printf "p"
-                fi
-
-                printf " $roundup_test_name\n"
+                # Pass roundup return code outside of the subshell
+                exit $roundup_result
             )
+
+            # copy roundup_result from subshell above
+            roundup_result=$?
+
+            # It's safe to return to normal operation.
+            set -e
+
+            # This is the final step of a test.  Print its pass/fail signal
+            # and name.
+            if [ "$roundup_result" -ne 0 ]
+            then printf "f"
+            else printf "p"
+            fi
+
+            printf " $roundup_test_name\n"
         done
     )
 done |