diff --git a/validate/gst/preload/gst-validate-monitor-preload.c b/validate/gst/preload/gst-validate-monitor-preload.c
index 939dc7377e..370a94e1b9 100644
--- a/validate/gst/preload/gst-validate-monitor-preload.c
+++ b/validate/gst/preload/gst-validate-monitor-preload.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ static void
 exit_report_printer (void)
 {
   if (runner)
-    gst_validate_runner_printf (runner);
+    gst_validate_runner_exit (runner, TRUE);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-reporter.c b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-reporter.c
index 3057dc1de9..7d83eda234 100644
--- a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-reporter.c
+++ b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-reporter.c
@@ -316,6 +316,8 @@ gst_validate_reporter_set_runner (GstValidateReporter * reporter,
   GstValidateReporterPrivate *priv = gst_validate_reporter_get_priv (reporter);
 
   priv->runner = runner;
+
+  g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (reporter), "validate-runner");
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.c b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.c
index 023f971d35..afbcb9f25d 100644
--- a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.c
+++ b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.c
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ G_DEFINE_TYPE (GstValidateRunner, gst_validate_runner, G_TYPE_OBJECT);
 enum
 {
   REPORT_ADDED_SIGNAL,
+  STOPPING_SIGNAL,
   /* add more above */
   LAST_SIGNAL
 };
@@ -262,6 +263,10 @@ gst_validate_runner_class_init (GstValidateRunnerClass * klass)
       g_signal_new ("report-added", G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS (klass),
       G_SIGNAL_RUN_LAST, 0, NULL, NULL, NULL, G_TYPE_NONE, 1,
       GST_TYPE_VALIDATE_REPORT);
+
+  _signals[STOPPING_SIGNAL] =
+      g_signal_new ("stopping", G_TYPE_FROM_CLASS (klass), G_SIGNAL_RUN_LAST, 0,
+      NULL, NULL, NULL, G_TYPE_NONE, 0);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -501,3 +506,26 @@ gst_validate_runner_printf (GstValidateRunner * runner)
       gst_validate_runner_get_reports_count (runner));
   return ret;
 }
+
+int
+gst_validate_runner_exit (GstValidateRunner * runner, gboolean print_result)
+{
+  gint ret = 0;
+
+  g_signal_emit (runner, _signals[STOPPING_SIGNAL], 0);
+
+  if (print_result) {
+    ret = gst_validate_runner_printf (runner);
+  } else {
+    GList *tmp;
+
+    for (tmp = runner->priv->reports; tmp; tmp = tmp->next) {
+      GstValidateReport *report = tmp->data;
+
+      if (report->level == GST_VALIDATE_REPORT_LEVEL_CRITICAL)
+        ret = 18;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return ret;
+}
diff --git a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.h b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.h
index 7e102a1d4a..3c9b31d13f 100644
--- a/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.h
+++ b/validate/gst/validate/gst-validate-runner.h
@@ -76,9 +76,10 @@ GstValidateRunner *   gst_validate_runner_new               (void);
 void            gst_validate_runner_add_report  (GstValidateRunner * runner, GstValidateReport * report);
 
 guint           gst_validate_runner_get_reports_count (GstValidateRunner * runner);
-GList *        gst_validate_runner_get_reports (GstValidateRunner * runner);
+GList *         gst_validate_runner_get_reports (GstValidateRunner * runner);
 
 int             gst_validate_runner_printf (GstValidateRunner * runner);
+int             gst_validate_runner_exit (GstValidateRunner * runner, gboolean print_result);
 
 GstValidateReportingDetails gst_validate_runner_get_default_reporting_level (GstValidateRunner *runner);
 GstValidateReportingDetails gst_validate_runner_get_reporting_level_for_name (GstValidateRunner *runner,
diff --git a/validate/tools/gst-validate-media-check.c b/validate/tools/gst-validate-media-check.c
index 9e386afab4..f278d0ba39 100644
--- a/validate/tools/gst-validate-media-check.c
+++ b/validate/tools/gst-validate-media-check.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ main (int argc, gchar ** argv)
     g_free (output);
   }
 
-  ret = gst_validate_runner_printf (runner);
+  ret = gst_validate_runner_exit (runner, TRUE);
   if (ret && expected_file) {
     output = gst_media_descriptor_writer_serialize (writer);
     g_print ("Media info:\n%s\n", output);
diff --git a/validate/tools/gst-validate-transcoding.c b/validate/tools/gst-validate-transcoding.c
index 392ff0b969..04f5895e60 100644
--- a/validate/tools/gst-validate-transcoding.c
+++ b/validate/tools/gst-validate-transcoding.c
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ main (int argc, gchar ** argv)
 
   g_main_loop_run (mainloop);
 
-  rep_err = gst_validate_runner_printf (runner);
+  rep_err = gst_validate_runner_exit (runner, TRUE);
   if (ret == 0)
     ret = rep_err;
 
diff --git a/validate/tools/gst-validate.c b/validate/tools/gst-validate.c
index ed7e68a499..f11dbbcc9a 100644
--- a/validate/tools/gst-validate.c
+++ b/validate/tools/gst-validate.c
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ main (int argc, gchar ** argv)
   gst_bus_remove_signal_watch (bus);
   gst_object_unref (bus);
 
-  rep_err = gst_validate_runner_printf (runner);
+  rep_err = gst_validate_runner_exit (runner, TRUE);
   if (ret == 0) {
     ret = rep_err;
     if (rep_err != 0)