diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Actions/ExecuteConsoleCommand.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Actions/ExecuteConsoleCommand.php
index a799c3105..c2c6466c4 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Actions/ExecuteConsoleCommand.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Actions/ExecuteConsoleCommand.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(string $commandName): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(string $commandName): ExitCode|int
     {
         $callable = $this->getCallable($this->resolveCommandMiddleware($commandName));
 
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Console.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Console.php
index f5d6ffac1..11dc075d3 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Console.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Console.php
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 interface Console
 {
-    public function call(string $command): ExitCode;
+    public function call(string $command): ExitCode|int;
 
     public function readln(): string;
 
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleApplication.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleApplication.php
index be1e155af..315c4ce4a 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleApplication.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleApplication.php
@@ -57,7 +57,13 @@ public function run(): void
         try {
             $exitCode = ($this->container->get(ExecuteConsoleCommand::class))($this->argumentBag->getCommandName());
 
-            $this->container->get(Kernel::class)->shutdown($exitCode->value);
+            $exitCode = is_int($exitCode) ? $exitCode : $exitCode->value;
+
+            if ($exitCode < 0 || $exitCode > 255) {
+                throw new InvalidExitCode($exitCode);
+            }
+
+            $this->container->get(Kernel::class)->shutdown($exitCode);
         } catch (Throwable $throwable) {
             foreach ($this->appConfig->errorHandlers as $exceptionHandler) {
                 $exceptionHandler->handleException($throwable);
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddleware.php
index ebd140461..f955431bd 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddleware.php
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@
 
 interface ConsoleMiddleware
 {
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode;
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int;
 }
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddlewareCallable.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddlewareCallable.php
index caeea0611..91edbafee 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddlewareCallable.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ConsoleMiddlewareCallable.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation): ExitCode|int
     {
         return ($this->closure)($invocation);
     }
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Exceptions/ConsoleErrorHandler.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Exceptions/ConsoleErrorHandler.php
index dab363c1b..d0e315685 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Exceptions/ConsoleErrorHandler.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Exceptions/ConsoleErrorHandler.php
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@
 namespace Tempest\Console\Exceptions;
 
 use Tempest\Console\Console;
+use Tempest\Console\ExitCode;
+use Tempest\Console\HasExitCode;
 use Tempest\Console\Input\ConsoleArgumentBag;
 use Tempest\Container\Tag;
 use Tempest\Core\ErrorHandler;
+use Tempest\Core\Kernel;
 use Tempest\Highlight\Escape;
 use Tempest\Highlight\Highlighter;
 use Throwable;
@@ -15,6 +18,7 @@
 final readonly class ConsoleErrorHandler implements ErrorHandler
 {
     public function __construct(
+        private Kernel $kernel,
         #[Tag('console')]
         private Highlighter $highlighter,
         private Console $console,
@@ -53,6 +57,10 @@ public function handleException(Throwable $throwable): void
                 ->writeln('<em>-v</em> show more')
                 ->writeln();
         }
+
+        $exitCode = $throwable instanceof HasExitCode ? $throwable->getExitCode() : ExitCode::ERROR;
+
+        $this->kernel->shutdown($exitCode->value);
     }
 
     public function handleError(int $errNo, string $errstr, string $errFile, int $errLine): void
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ExitCode.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ExitCode.php
index 4fe2807ec..a08a391f3 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/ExitCode.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/ExitCode.php
@@ -4,10 +4,20 @@
 
 namespace Tempest\Console;
 
+/**
+ * You're free to return any int between 0 and 255 from a console command as exit code.
+ * The meaning of these integer values will be determined by your application.
+ * Alternatively, Tempest provides a closed set of predefined exit codes via this enum.
+ * The exit codes listed here are used by Tempest and assigned a fixed meaning.
+ */
 enum ExitCode: int
 {
     case SUCCESS = 0;
     case ERROR = 1;
     case INVALID = 2;
     case CANCELLED = 25;
+    case CANNOT_EXECUTE = 126;
+    case COMMAND_NOT_FOUND = 127;
+    case INVALID_EXIT_CODE = 128;
+    case TERMINATED = 130;
 }
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/GenericConsole.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/GenericConsole.php
index f5f8e11de..504db2b07 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/GenericConsole.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/GenericConsole.php
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function call(string $command): ExitCode
+    public function call(string $command): ExitCode|int
     {
         return ($this->executeConsoleCommand)($command);
     }
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/HasExitCode.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/HasExitCode.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..642739739
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/HasExitCode.php
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Tempest\Console;
+
+interface HasExitCode
+{
+    public function getExitCode(): ExitCode;
+}
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/InvalidExitCode.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/InvalidExitCode.php
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..524dc6868
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/InvalidExitCode.php
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace Tempest\Console;
+
+use Exception;
+
+final class InvalidExitCode extends Exception implements HasExitCode
+{
+    public function __construct(int $original)
+    {
+        parent::__construct("An exit code should be between 0 and 255. Instead got {$original}");
+    }
+
+    public function getExitCode(): ExitCode
+    {
+        return ExitCode::INVALID_EXIT_CODE;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/CautionMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/CautionMiddleware.php
index 46b95fc12..f3827a0a8 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/CautionMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/CautionMiddleware.php
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         $environment = $this->appConfig->environment;
 
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ConsoleExceptionMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ConsoleExceptionMiddleware.php
index 4fb7abf30..95aaf76a1 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ConsoleExceptionMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ConsoleExceptionMiddleware.php
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         try {
             return $next($invocation);
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ForceMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ForceMiddleware.php
index 6efedc126..449200feb 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ForceMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ForceMiddleware.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ public function __construct(private Console $console)
     {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         if ($invocation->argumentBag->get('-f') || $invocation->argumentBag->get('force')) {
             if ($this->console instanceof GenericConsole) {
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/HelpMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/HelpMiddleware.php
index 0d53ca383..73a414a06 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/HelpMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/HelpMiddleware.php
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         if ($invocation->argumentBag->get('-h') || $invocation->argumentBag->get('help')) {
             $this->renderHelp($invocation->consoleCommand);
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/InvalidCommandMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/InvalidCommandMiddleware.php
index d70bb3276..806ed5c97 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/InvalidCommandMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/InvalidCommandMiddleware.php
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         try {
             return $next($invocation);
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next
         }
     }
 
-    private function retry(Invocation $invocation, InvalidCommandException $exception): ExitCode
+    private function retry(Invocation $invocation, InvalidCommandException $exception): ExitCode|int
     {
         $this->console->writeln("<em>Provide missing input:</em>");
 
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/OverviewMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/OverviewMiddleware.php
index 3381e4d81..89a7cdeed 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/OverviewMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/OverviewMiddleware.php
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         if (! $invocation->argumentBag->getCommandName()) {
             $this->renderOverview(showHidden: $invocation->argumentBag->has('--all', '-a'));
diff --git a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ResolveOrRescueMiddleware.php b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ResolveOrRescueMiddleware.php
index 0d363989f..01a9f7d24 100644
--- a/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ResolveOrRescueMiddleware.php
+++ b/src/Tempest/Console/src/Middleware/ResolveOrRescueMiddleware.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public function __construct(
     ) {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         $consoleCommand = $this->consoleConfig->commands[$invocation->argumentBag->getCommandName()] ?? null;
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next
         ));
     }
 
-    private function rescue(string $commandName): ExitCode
+    private function rescue(string $commandName): ExitCode|int
     {
         $this->console->writeln("<error>Command {$commandName} not found</error>");
 
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ private function getSimilarCommands(string $name): array
         return $similarCommands;
     }
 
-    private function runIntendedCommand(string $commandName): ExitCode
+    private function runIntendedCommand(string $commandName): ExitCode|int
     {
         return ($this->executeConsoleCommand)($commandName);
     }
diff --git a/tests/Integration/Console/Fixtures/SpecificMiddleware.php b/tests/Integration/Console/Fixtures/SpecificMiddleware.php
index 73441766b..22cf51c10 100644
--- a/tests/Integration/Console/Fixtures/SpecificMiddleware.php
+++ b/tests/Integration/Console/Fixtures/SpecificMiddleware.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public function __construct(private Console $console)
     {
     }
 
-    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode
+    public function __invoke(Invocation $invocation, ConsoleMiddlewareCallable $next): ExitCode|int
     {
         $this->console->writeln('from middleware');