diff --git a/nuke.c b/nuke.c
index a1b840c..7cbb5bc 100644
--- a/nuke.c
+++ b/nuke.c
@@ -398,6 +398,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
   exit_success:
     curs_set(1); /* unhide cursor */
     endwin(); /* Exit ncurses */
+    int exit_status = EXIT_SUCCESS;
     if (!testing) {
         for (int i = 0; i < num_files; i++) {
             int failure;
@@ -412,11 +413,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
                 printf("%s\n", files[i]);
             } else {
                 printf("Error: unable to delete %s (%s)\n", files[i], strerror(errno));
-                return EXIT_FAILURE;
+                exit_status = EXIT_FAILURE;
             }
         }
     }
-    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+    return exit_status;
 
   exit_failure:
     curs_set(1); /* unhide cursor */