is( $exit >> 8, 4, 'fatal error exit' );
}
-$exit = run('END { $? = 42 }');
-is( $exit >> 8, 42, 'Changing $? in END block' );
+$exit_arg = 42;
+$exit = run("END { \$? = $exit_arg }");
+
+# On VMS, in the child process the actual exit status will be SS$_ABORT,
+# which is what you get from any non-zero value of $? that has been
+# dePOSIXified by STATUS_POSIX_SET. In the parent process, all we'll
+# see are the severity bits (0-2) shifted left by 8.
+$exit_arg = (44 & 7) if $^O eq 'VMS';
+
+is( $exit >> 8, $exit_arg, 'Changing $? in END block' );