diff --git a/lib/runner.js b/lib/runner.js
index e65cffdd1b..d896e1b9ae 100644
--- a/lib/runner.js
+++ b/lib/runner.js
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ module.exports = Runner;
  *   - `suite`  (suite) test suite execution started
  *   - `suite end`  (suite) all tests (and sub-suites) have finished
  *   - `test`  (test) test execution started
+ *   - `test verify` (test) test body complete but status not yet decided
  *   - `test end`  (test) test completed
  *   - `hook`  (hook) hook execution started
  *   - `hook end`  (hook) hook complete
@@ -262,16 +263,26 @@ Runner.prototype.parents = function(){
 
 Runner.prototype.runTest = function(fn){
   var test = this.test
-    , self = this;
+    , self = this
+    , continue_fn;
+
+  continue_fn = function(test_err) {
+    try {
+      self.emit('test verify');
+    } catch (e) {
+      if(!test_err) test_err = e;
+    }
+    fn(test_err);
+  };
 
   try {
     test.ctx.test(test);
     test.on('error', function(err){
       self.fail(test, err);
     });
-    test.run(fn);
+    test.run(continue_fn);
   } catch (err) {
-    fn(err);
+    continue_fn(err);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/test/runner.js b/test/runner.js
index 20a0afb812..946d734628 100644
--- a/test/runner.js
+++ b/test/runner.js
@@ -23,6 +23,64 @@ describe('Runner', function(){
     })
   })
 
+  describe('.runTest()', function(){
+    // make a test-like object that runs the given function
+    var make_test = function(fn) {
+      return {
+        ctx: {test: function() {} },
+        run: fn,
+        on: function() {}
+      };
+    };
+
+    it('should call the "test verify" hook on success', function(done){
+      var test = make_test(function(done) { done(); });
+      var called = false;
+      runner.test = test;
+      runner.on('test verify', function() { called = true; });
+      runner.runTest(function(e) {
+        (e == undefined).should.be.true; // should.not.exist(e) doesn't seem to work?
+        called.should.be.true;
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should call the "test verify" hook on failure', function(done) {
+      var test = make_test(function(done) {  throw new Error("boo!"); });
+      var called = false;
+      runner.test = test;
+      runner.on('test verify', function() { called = true; });
+      runner.runTest(function(e) {
+        e.message.should.equal("boo!");
+        called.should.be.true;
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should allow "test verify" to fail the test', function(done) {
+      var test = make_test(function(done) { done(); });
+      var called = false;
+      runner.test = test;
+      runner.on('test verify', function() { throw new Error("verify failure");});
+      runner.runTest(function(e) {
+        e.message.should.equal("verify failure");
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should not allow "test verify" to shadow the reason for a failed test', function(done) {
+      var test = make_test(function(done) { throw new Error("test failure"); });
+      var called = false;
+      runner.test = test;
+      runner.on('test verify', function() { called = true; throw new Error("verify failure");});
+      runner.runTest(function(e) {
+        e.message.should.equal("test failure");
+        called.should.be.true;
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  })
+
   describe('.checkGlobals(test)', function(){
     it('should emit "fail" when a new global is introduced', function(done){
       runner.checkGlobals();