diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2e64fe7..19cdee3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -111,6 +111,43 @@ will source the script `test/test_helper.bash` in your test file. This
 can be useful for sharing functions to set up your environment or load
 fixtures.
 
+### The _skip_ directive
+
+Tests can be skipped over by using the `skip` directive at the point in
+a test you wish to skip.
+
+```bash
+@test "A test I don't want to execute for now" {
+  skip
+  run foo
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+```
+
+Optionally, a reason for skipping can be included:
+
+```bash
+@test "A test I don't want to execute for now" {
+  skip "This command will return zero soon, but not now"
+  run foo
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+```
+
+Or you can skip conditionally:
+
+```bash
+@test "A test which should run" {
+
+  if [ foo != bar ]; then
+    skip "foo isn't bar"
+  fi
+
+  run foo
+  [ "$status" -eq 0 ]
+}
+```
+
 ### Special variables
 
 There are several global variables you can use to introspect on Bats
diff --git a/libexec/bats-exec-test b/libexec/bats-exec-test
index d4c21b3..8f4396f 100755
--- a/libexec/bats-exec-test
+++ b/libexec/bats-exec-test
@@ -57,6 +57,12 @@ teardown() {
   true
 }
 
+skip() {
+  BATS_TEST_SKIPPED=${1:-1}
+  BATS_TEST_COMPLETED=1
+  exit 0
+}
+
 bats_test_info() {
   BATS_TEST_DESCRIPTION="$1"
 }
@@ -85,15 +91,24 @@ bats_teardown_trap() {
 
 bats_exit_trap() {
   local status
+  local skipped
   trap - err exit
 
+  skipped=""
+  if [ -n "$BATS_TEST_SKIPPED" ]; then
+    skipped=" # skip"
+    if [ "1" != "$BATS_TEST_SKIPPED" ]; then
+      skipped+=" ($BATS_TEST_SKIPPED)"
+    fi
+  fi
+
   if [ -z "$BATS_TEST_COMPLETED" ]; then
     echo "not ok $BATS_TEST_NUMBER $BATS_TEST_DESCRIPTION" >&3
     echo "# $BATS_TEST_FILENAME:$BATS_LINE_NUMBER" >&3
     sed -e "s/^/#    /" < "$BATS_OUT" >&3
     status=1
   else
-    echo "ok $BATS_TEST_NUMBER $BATS_TEST_DESCRIPTION" >&3
+    echo "ok ${BATS_TEST_NUMBER}${skipped} ${BATS_TEST_DESCRIPTION}" >&3
     status=0
   fi
 
diff --git a/test/bats.bats b/test/bats.bats
index fe24cd7..245fab1 100755
--- a/test/bats.bats
+++ b/test/bats.bats
@@ -110,3 +110,22 @@ fixtures bats
   run bats "$FIXTURE_ROOT/dos_line.bats"
   [ $status -eq 0 ]
 }
+
+@test "a skipped test" {
+  skip
+  run bats
+  [ $status -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "a skipped test with a reason" {
+  skip "a reason for skipping"
+  run bats
+  [ $status -eq 0 ]
+}
+
+@test "skipped test output" {
+  run bats "$FIXTURE_ROOT/skipped.bats"
+  [ $status -eq 0 ]
+  [ "${lines[1]}" = "ok 1 # skip a skipped test" ]
+  [ "${lines[2]}" = "ok 2 # skip (a reason) a skipped test with a reason" ]
+}
diff --git a/test/fixtures/bats/skipped.bats b/test/fixtures/bats/skipped.bats
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b0d61b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixtures/bats/skipped.bats
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+@test "a skipped test" {
+  skip
+}
+
+@test "a skipped test with a reason" {
+  skip "a reason"
+}