diff --git a/changelog/4098.feature.rst b/changelog/4098.feature.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1a53de7597a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/4098.feature.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Add returncode argument to pytest.exit() to exit pytest with a specific return code.
diff --git a/src/_pytest/main.py b/src/_pytest/main.py
index 0171bda0cd3..2d6cea668bf 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/main.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/main.py
@@ -185,10 +185,13 @@ def wrap_session(config, doit):
             session.exitstatus = EXIT_TESTSFAILED
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             excinfo = _pytest._code.ExceptionInfo()
-            if initstate < 2 and isinstance(excinfo.value, exit.Exception):
+            exitstatus = EXIT_INTERRUPTED
+            if initstate <= 2 and isinstance(excinfo.value, exit.Exception):
                 sys.stderr.write("{}: {}\n".format(excinfo.typename, excinfo.value.msg))
+                if excinfo.value.returncode is not None:
+                    exitstatus = excinfo.value.returncode
             config.hook.pytest_keyboard_interrupt(excinfo=excinfo)
-            session.exitstatus = EXIT_INTERRUPTED
+            session.exitstatus = exitstatus
         except:  # noqa
             excinfo = _pytest._code.ExceptionInfo()
             config.notify_exception(excinfo, config.option)
diff --git a/src/_pytest/outcomes.py b/src/_pytest/outcomes.py
index f6093ef7667..4c795838458 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/outcomes.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/outcomes.py
@@ -49,18 +49,24 @@ class Failed(OutcomeException):
 class Exit(KeyboardInterrupt):
     """ raised for immediate program exits (no tracebacks/summaries)"""
 
-    def __init__(self, msg="unknown reason"):
+    def __init__(self, msg="unknown reason", returncode=None):
         self.msg = msg
+        self.returncode = returncode
         KeyboardInterrupt.__init__(self, msg)
 
 
 # exposed helper methods
 
 
-def exit(msg):
-    """ exit testing process as if KeyboardInterrupt was triggered. """
+def exit(msg, returncode=None):
+    """
+    Exit testing process as if KeyboardInterrupt was triggered.
+
+    :param str msg: message to display upon exit.
+    :param int returncode: return code to be used when exiting pytest.
+    """
     __tracebackhide__ = True
-    raise Exit(msg)
+    raise Exit(msg, returncode)
 
 
 exit.Exception = Exit
diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index b9538cfad19..a3fffe81a3d 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -570,6 +570,18 @@ def pytest_configure(config):
     result.stderr.fnmatch_lines(["Exit: oh noes"])
 
 
+def test_pytest_exit_returncode(testdir):
+    testdir.makepyfile(
+        """
+        import pytest
+        def test_foo():
+            pytest.exit("some exit msg", 99)
+    """
+    )
+    result = testdir.runpytest()
+    assert result.ret == 99
+
+
 def test_pytest_fail_notrace_runtest(testdir):
     """Test pytest.fail(..., pytrace=False) does not show tracebacks during test run."""
     testdir.makepyfile(