diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index fdec8d1..13d999f 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ setup: ## Create the venv and install the test extra
 
 .PHONY: test
 test: ## Run the test suite
-	@test -x $(VENV)/bin/python || { echo "FAIL — no venv in this tree; run: make setup"; exit 1; }
+	@test -x $(VENV)/bin/python || { echo "FAIL — no venv in this tree; run: make setup"; exit 69; }
 	$(VENV)/bin/python -m pytest tests/
 
 # No `lint` target, deliberately. CLAUDE.md states it outright: no linter is