diff --git a/lib/pact/provider/pact_spec_runner.rb b/lib/pact/provider/pact_spec_runner.rb
index 7db51560..5e4c9b68 100644
--- a/lib/pact/provider/pact_spec_runner.rb
+++ b/lib/pact/provider/pact_spec_runner.rb
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def run_specs
           ::RSpec::Core::CommandLine.new(NoConfigurationOptions.new)
             .run(::RSpec.configuration.output_stream, ::RSpec.configuration.error_stream)
         end
-        options[:ignore_failures] ? 0 : exit_code
+        (all_pacts_pending? || options[:ignore_failures]) ? 0 : exit_code
       end
 
       def rspec_runner_options
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ def ordered_pact_json(pact_json)
         consumer_contract.to_json
       end
 
+      def all_pacts_pending?
+        pact_urls.all?{ | pact_url| pact_url.metadata[:pending] }
+      end
+
       def class_exists? name
         Kernel.const_get name
       rescue NameError
diff --git a/lib/pact/provider/rspec.rb b/lib/pact/provider/rspec.rb
index 61dfed0d..1a7f2a65 100644
--- a/lib/pact/provider/rspec.rb
+++ b/lib/pact/provider/rspec.rb
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def describe_interaction interaction, options
             pact_interaction: interaction,
             pact_interaction_example_description: interaction_description_for_rerun_command(interaction),
             pact_uri: options[:pact_uri],
-            pact_ignore_failures: options[:pact_uri].metadata[:pending]
+            pact_ignore_failures: options[:pact_uri].metadata[:pending] || options[:ignore_failures]
           }
 
           describe description_for(interaction), metadata do