diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 42b66d2..64f29db 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -369,21 +369,41 @@ useful to clean up the environment after each test.
 
 ### <a name="skipping"></a> Skipping
 
-    startSkipping
+To "skip" a test completely, call function
 
-This function forces the remaining _assert_ and _fail_ functions to be
-"skipped", i.e. they will have no effect. Each function skipped will be recorded
+    skipTest
+
+in the very beginning of the test case. It **must** be called as first thing in
+a test that one wishes to skip. The function will force all _assert_ and _fail_
+functions to be ignored completely in that test. The number of skipped asserts
+and fails *will not* be recorded, instead a skipped test counter is increased by one.
+Should this function be called after any asserts, an error will be printed out
+and the test will fail.
+
+To "skip" only certain assert and fail functions, one should call function
+
+    startSkippingAsserts
+
+This function forces the _assert_ and _fail_ functions after the function call to be
+"skipped", i.e. they will have no effect. Each skipped check function will be recorded
 so that the total of asserts and fails will not be altered.
 
-    endSkipping
+To end assert and fail function skipping, call function
+
+    endSkippingAsserts
 
 This function returns calls to the _assert_ and _fail_ functions to their
 default behavior, i.e. they will be called.
 
-    isSkipping
+The current state of assert skipping can be checked using function
+
+    isSkippingAsserts
+
+It can be compared against `${SHUNIT_TRUE}` or `${SHUNIT_FALSE}` if desired.
 
-This function returns the current state of skipping. It can be compared against
-`${SHUNIT_TRUE}` or `${SHUNIT_FALSE}` if desired.
+**Note:** Those `*SkippingAsserts` functions were previously called `startSkipping`,
+`endSkipping`, and `isSkipping`, respectively. The old functions are still available
+and they work as before, but they will print out a warning that they are deprecated.
 
 ### <a name="suites"></a> Suites
 
@@ -496,8 +516,8 @@ but maintain the total test count.
 
 Probably the easiest example would be shell code that is meant to run under the
 __bash__ shell, but the unit test is running under the Bourne shell. There are
-things that just won't work. The following test code demonstrates two sample
-functions, one that will be run under any shell, and the another that will run
+things that just won't work. The following test code demonstrates three sample
+functions, one that will be run under any shell, and the two others that will run
 only under the __bash__ shell.
 
 _**Example** -- math include_
@@ -517,9 +537,19 @@ add_bash() {
 
   echo $(($1 + $2))
 }
+
+subtract_bash()
+{
+  num_a=$1
+  num_b=$2
+
+  echo $(($1 - $2))
+}
 ```
 
-And here is a corresponding unit test that correctly skips the `add_bash()` function when the unit test is not running under the __bash__ shell.
+And here is corresponding unit tests that correctly skips the `add_bash()`
+and `subtract_bash()` functions when the unit test is not running under
+the __bash__ shell.
 
 _**Example** -- math unit test_
 ```sh
@@ -533,12 +563,27 @@ testAdding() {
       3 "${result}"
 
   # Disable non-generic tests.
-  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && startSkipping
+  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && startSkippingAsserts
+
+  result=`add_bash 1 2`
+  assertEquals \
+      "the result of '${result}' was wrong" \
+      3 "${result}"
+}
+
+testBashFunctions() {
+  # Disable non-generic tests.
+  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && skipTest "Works only in bash shell"
 
   result=`add_bash 1 2`
   assertEquals \
       "the result of '${result}' was wrong" \
       3 "${result}"
+
+  result=`subtract_bash 2 1`
+  assertEquals \
+      "the result of '${result}' was wrong" \
+      1 "${result}"
 }
 
 oneTimeSetUp() {
@@ -556,8 +601,9 @@ output.
 ```console
 $ /bin/bash math_test.sh
 testAdding
+testBashFunctions
 
-Ran 1 test.
+Ran 2 tests.
 
 OK
 ```
@@ -568,20 +614,28 @@ output.
 ```console
 $ /bin/ksh math_test.sh
 testAdding
+testBashFunctions
+shunit2:WARN [skipping test] Works only in bash shell
 
-Ran 1 test.
+Ran 2 tests.
 
-OK (skipped=1)
+OK (skipped tests=1,skipped asserts=1)
 ```
 
 As you can see, the total number of tests has not changed, but the report
-indicates that some tests were skipped.
+indicates that some tests and asserts were skipped. Also, a warning is printed out to stderr
+when running the test in a shell other than bash for the bash-only test case to indicate that
+the test is skipped.
 
-Skipping can be controlled with the following functions: `startSkipping()`,
-`endSkipping()`, and `isSkipping()`. Once skipping is enabled, it will remain
-enabled until the end of the current test function call, after which skipping is
+Skipping assert checks can be controlled with the following functions: `startSkippingAsserts()`,
+`endSkippingAsserts()`, and `isSkippingAsserts()`. Once skipping is enabled, it will remain
+enabled until the end of the current test function call, after which assert skipping is
 disabled.
 
+Should the test be skipped completely, it can be done using the `skipTest` function. It will
+affect only the test case in question, and it does not increment the counters for the asserts
+(total, passed, failed, or skipped).
+
 ### <a name="cmd-line-args"></a> Running specific tests from the command line.
 
 When running a test script, you may override the default set of tests, or the suite-specified set of tests, by providing additional arguments on the command line.  Each additional argument after the `--` marker is assumed to be the name of a test function to be run in the order specified.  e.g.
diff --git a/examples/math.inc b/examples/math.inc
index 4097106..7e09004 100644
--- a/examples/math.inc
+++ b/examples/math.inc
@@ -15,3 +15,11 @@ add_bash()
 
   echo $(($1 + $2))
 }
+
+subtract_bash()
+{
+  num_a=$1
+  num_b=$2
+
+  echo $(($1 - $2))
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/math_test.sh b/examples/math_test.sh
index c6d0029..411441b 100755
--- a/examples/math_test.sh
+++ b/examples/math_test.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ testAdding() {
       3 "${result}"
 
   # Disable non-generic tests.
-  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && startSkipping
+  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && startSkippingAsserts
 
   result=`add_bash 1 2`
   assertEquals \
@@ -16,6 +16,21 @@ testAdding() {
       3 "${result}"
 }
 
+testBashFunctions() {
+  # Disable non-generic tests.
+  [ -z "${BASH_VERSION:-}" ] && skipTest "Works only in bash shell"
+
+  result=`add_bash 1 2`
+  assertEquals \
+      "the result of '${result}' was wrong" \
+      3 "${result}"
+
+  result=`subtract_bash 2 1`
+  assertEquals \
+      "the result of '${result}' was wrong" \
+      1 "${result}"
+}
+
 oneTimeSetUp() {
   # Load include to test.
   . ./math.inc
diff --git a/shunit2 b/shunit2
index 57a45da..1cac4ec 100755
--- a/shunit2
+++ b/shunit2
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ __shunit_lineno=''  # Line number of executed test.
 __shunit_mode=${__SHUNIT_MODE_SOURCED}  # Operating mode.
 __shunit_reportGenerated=${SHUNIT_FALSE}  # Is report generated.
 __shunit_script=''  # Filename of unittest script (standalone mode).
-__shunit_skip=${SHUNIT_FALSE}  # Is skipping enabled.
+__shunit_skip_test=${SHUNIT_FALSE} # Is test skipping enabled
+__shunit_skip_asserts=${SHUNIT_FALSE}  # Is assert skipping enabled.
 __shunit_suite=''  # Suite of tests to execute.
 __shunit_clean=${SHUNIT_FALSE}  # _shunit_cleanup() was already called.
 
@@ -93,12 +94,17 @@ __shunit_ansi_cyan=''
 __shunit_testSuccess=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
 __shunit_testsTotal=0
 __shunit_testsPassed=0
+__shunit_testsSkipped=0
 __shunit_testsFailed=0
 
 # Counts of asserts.
+__shunit_assertsTotalInTest=0
 __shunit_assertsTotal=0
+__shunit_assertsPassedInTest=0
 __shunit_assertsPassed=0
+__shunit_assertsFailedInTest=0
 __shunit_assertsFailed=0
+__shunit_assertsSkippedInTest=0
 __shunit_assertsSkipped=0
 
 #
@@ -824,24 +830,67 @@ _FAIL_NOT_SAME_='eval failNotSame --lineno "${LINENO:-}"'
 # Skipping functions.
 #
 
+# Force the following test functions to be "skipped".
+#
+# This function will "mark" the following test cases to be "skipped", i.e.
+# they will not be executed. Instead, they are indicated as skipped tests
+# and the number of the skipped tests will be recorded in the final report.
+skipTest() {
+  # The assert skipping must be disabled when calling this function
+  if isSkippingAsserts; then
+    endSkippingAsserts
+    _shunit_error "skipTest function MUST be called as the first thing in the test function!"
+    return ${SHUNIT_FALSE}
+  fi
+  # The no assert calls should be made before calling this function
+  _shunit_skip_test_counter=${__shunit_assertsTotalInTest}
+  _shunit_skip_test_counter=`expr "${_shunit_skip_test_counter}" + "${__shunit_assertsPassedInTest}"`
+  _shunit_skip_test_counter=`expr "${_shunit_skip_test_counter}" + "${__shunit_assertsFailedInTest}"`
+  _shunit_skip_test_counter=`expr "${_shunit_skip_test_counter}" + "${__shunit_assertsSkippedInTest}"`
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${_shunit_skip_test_counter}" -gt 0 ]; then
+    _shunit_error "skipTest function MUST be called as the first thing in the test function!"
+    return ${SHUNIT_FALSE}
+  fi
+  unset _shunit_skip_test_counter
+  __shunit_skip_test=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
+  _shunit_skip_test_message="[skipping test] $*"
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ $# -eq 0 ]; then _shunit_skip_test_message="[skipping test]"; fi
+  _shunit_warn "${_shunit_skip_test_message}"
+  unset _shunit_skip_test_message
+  return ${SHUNIT_TRUE}
+}
+
+# Resume the normal execution of test cases
+_shunit_endSkippingTest() {
+  __shunit_skip_test=${SHUNIT_FALSE}
+}
+
 # Force remaining assert and fail functions to be "skipped".
 #
 # This function forces the remaining assert and fail functions to be "skipped",
-# i.e. they will have no effect. Each function skipped will be recorded so that
-# the total of asserts and fails will not be altered.
+# i.e. they will have no effect. Each skipped assert and fail function will be
+# recorded so that the total of asserts and fails will not be altered.
 #
 # Args:
 #   message: string: message to provide to user [optional]
+startSkippingAsserts() {
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ $# -gt 0 ]; then _shunit_warn "[skipping asserts] $*"; fi
+  __shunit_skip_asserts=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
+}
 startSkipping() {
-  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ $# -gt 0 ]; then _shunit_warn "[skipping] $*"; fi
-  __shunit_skip=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
+  _shunit_warn "startSkipping is deprecated. Use startSkippingAsserts instead."
+  startSkippingAsserts "$@"
 }
 
 # Resume the normal recording behavior of assert and fail calls.
 #
 # Args:
 #   None
-endSkipping() { __shunit_skip=${SHUNIT_FALSE}; }
+endSkippingAsserts() { __shunit_skip_asserts=${SHUNIT_FALSE}; }
+endSkipping() {
+  _shunit_warn "endSkipping is deprecated. Use endSkippingAsserts instead."
+  endSkippingAsserts
+}
 
 # Returns the state of assert and fail call skipping.
 #
@@ -849,7 +898,12 @@ endSkipping() { __shunit_skip=${SHUNIT_FALSE}; }
 #   None
 # Returns:
 #   boolean: (TRUE/FALSE constant)
-isSkipping() { return ${__shunit_skip}; }
+isSkippingAsserts() { return ${__shunit_skip_asserts}; }
+isSkipping() {
+  _shunit_warn "isSkipping is deprecated. Use isSkippingAsserts instead."
+  # shellcheck disable=SC2046
+  return `isSkippingAsserts`
+}
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Suite functions.
@@ -1099,8 +1153,15 @@ _shunit_execSuite() {
   for _shunit_test_ in ${__shunit_suite}; do
     __shunit_testSuccess=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
 
-    # Disable skipping.
-    endSkipping
+    # Disable skipping
+    endSkippingAsserts
+    _shunit_endSkippingTest
+
+    # Reset the counters
+    __shunit_assertsTotalInTest=0
+    __shunit_assertsPassedInTest=0
+    __shunit_assertsFailedInTest=0
+    __shunit_assertsSkippedInTest=0
 
     # Execute the per-test setUp() function.
     if ! setUp; then
@@ -1121,7 +1182,9 @@ _shunit_execSuite() {
     fi
 
     # Update stats.
-    if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ ${__shunit_testSuccess} -eq ${SHUNIT_TRUE} ]; then
+    if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ ${__shunit_skip_test} -eq ${SHUNIT_TRUE} ]; then
+      __shunit_testsSkipped=`expr ${__shunit_testsSkipped} + 1`
+    elif ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ ${__shunit_testSuccess} -eq ${SHUNIT_TRUE} ]; then
       __shunit_testsPassed=`expr ${__shunit_testsPassed} + 1`
     else
       __shunit_testsFailed=`expr ${__shunit_testsFailed} + 1`
@@ -1131,6 +1194,30 @@ _shunit_execSuite() {
   unset _shunit_test_
 }
 
+# Generates the skipped tests note
+_shunit_generateSkippedTestsAndAssertsMessage() {
+  _shunit_skipped_msg_prefix_="$1"
+  _shunit_skipped_msg_suffix_="$2"
+  _shunit_skipped_msg_=""
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${__shunit_testsSkipped}" -gt 0 ]; then
+    _shunit_skipped_msg_="${_shunit_skipped_msg_prefix_}${__shunit_ansi_yellow}skipped tests=${__shunit_testsSkipped}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
+  fi
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${__shunit_assertsSkipped}" -gt 0 ]; then
+    if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${_shunit_skipped_msg_}" != "" ]; then
+      _shunit_skipped_msg_="${_shunit_skipped_msg_},"
+    else
+      _shunit_skipped_msg_="${_shunit_skipped_msg_prefix_}"
+    fi
+    _shunit_skipped_msg_="${_shunit_skipped_msg_}${__shunit_ansi_yellow}skipped asserts=${__shunit_assertsSkipped}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
+  fi
+  printf "%s" "${_shunit_skipped_msg_}"
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${_shunit_skipped_msg_}" != "" ]; then
+    echo "${_shunit_skipped_msg_suffix_}"
+  fi
+
+  unset _shunit_skipped_msg_prefix_ _shunit_skipped_msg_suffix_ _shunit_skipped_msg_
+}
+
 # Generates the user friendly report with appropriate OK/FAILED message.
 #
 # Args:
@@ -1157,25 +1244,24 @@ _shunit_generateReport() {
     ${__SHUNIT_CMD_ECHO_ESC} "${_shunit_msg_} tests."
   fi
 
+  _shunit_skipped_msg_=""
   if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ ${_shunit_ok_} -eq ${SHUNIT_TRUE} ]; then
     _shunit_msg_="${__shunit_ansi_green}OK${__shunit_ansi_none}"
-    if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${__shunit_assertsSkipped}" -gt 0 ]; then
-      _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_} (${__shunit_ansi_yellow}skipped=${__shunit_assertsSkipped}${__shunit_ansi_none})"
-    fi
+    _shunit_skipped_msg_=`_shunit_generateSkippedTestsAndAssertsMessage " (" ")"`
+    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_}${_shunit_skipped_msg_}"
   else
     _shunit_msg_="${__shunit_ansi_red}FAILED${__shunit_ansi_none}"
-    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_} (${__shunit_ansi_red}failures=${__shunit_assertsFailed}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
-    if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} [ "${__shunit_assertsSkipped}" -gt 0 ]; then
-      _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_},${__shunit_ansi_yellow}skipped=${__shunit_assertsSkipped}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
-    fi
-    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_})"
+    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_} (${__shunit_ansi_red}failed tests=${__shunit_testsFailed}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
+    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_},${__shunit_ansi_red}failed asserts=${__shunit_assertsFailed}${__shunit_ansi_none}"
+    _shunit_skipped_msg_=`_shunit_generateSkippedTestsAndAssertsMessage "," ")"`
+    _shunit_msg_="${_shunit_msg_}${_shunit_skipped_msg_}"
   fi
 
   echo
   ${__SHUNIT_CMD_ECHO_ESC} "${_shunit_msg_}"
   __shunit_reportGenerated=${SHUNIT_TRUE}
 
-  unset _shunit_msg_ _shunit_ok_
+  unset _shunit_msg_ _shunit_ok_ _shunit_skipped_msg_
 }
 
 # Test for whether a function should be skipped.
@@ -1185,7 +1271,10 @@ _shunit_generateReport() {
 # Returns:
 #   boolean: whether the test should be skipped (TRUE/FALSE constant)
 _shunit_shouldSkip() {
-  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} test ${__shunit_skip} -eq ${SHUNIT_FALSE}; then
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} test ${__shunit_skip_test} -eq ${SHUNIT_TRUE}; then
+    return ${SHUNIT_TRUE}
+  fi
+  if ${__SHUNIT_BUILTIN} test ${__shunit_skip_asserts} -eq ${SHUNIT_FALSE}; then
     return ${SHUNIT_FALSE}
   fi
   _shunit_assertSkip
@@ -1196,8 +1285,10 @@ _shunit_shouldSkip() {
 # Args:
 #   None
 _shunit_assertPass() {
-  __shunit_assertsPassed=`expr ${__shunit_assertsPassed} + 1`
-  __shunit_assertsTotal=`expr ${__shunit_assertsTotal} + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsPassed=`expr "${__shunit_assertsPassed}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsPassedInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsPassedInTest}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsTotal=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotal}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsTotalInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotalInTest}" + 1`
 }
 
 # Records a test failure.
@@ -1219,7 +1310,9 @@ _shunit_assertFail() {
 #   none
 _shunit_incFailedCount() {
   __shunit_assertsFailed=`expr "${__shunit_assertsFailed}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsFailedInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsFailedInTest}" + 1`
   __shunit_assertsTotal=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotal}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsTotalInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotalInTest}" + 1`
 }
 
 # Records a skipped test.
@@ -1228,20 +1321,30 @@ _shunit_incFailedCount() {
 #   None
 _shunit_assertSkip() {
   __shunit_assertsSkipped=`expr "${__shunit_assertsSkipped}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsSkippedInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsSkippedInTest}" + 1`
   __shunit_assertsTotal=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotal}" + 1`
+  __shunit_assertsTotalInTest=`expr "${__shunit_assertsTotalInTest}" + 1`
 }
 
 # Dump the current test metrics.
 #
 # Args:
 #   none
+_shunit_test_case_metrics() {
+  echo "< " \
+"total:  ${__shunit_assertsTotalInTest} " \
+"passed:  ${__shunit_assertsPassedInTest} " \
+"failed:  ${__shunit_assertsFailedInTest} " \
+"skipped:  ${__shunit_assertsSkippedInTest} " \
+" >"
+}
 _shunit_metrics() {
-  echo "< \
-total: ${__shunit_assertsTotal} \
-passed: ${__shunit_assertsPassed} \
-failed: ${__shunit_assertsFailed} \
-skipped: ${__shunit_assertsSkipped} \
->"
+  echo "< " \
+"total:  ${__shunit_assertsTotal} " \
+"passed:  ${__shunit_assertsPassed} " \
+"failed:  ${__shunit_assertsFailed} " \
+"skipped:  ${__shunit_assertsSkipped} " \
+" >"
 }
 
 # Prepare a script filename for sourcing.
diff --git a/shunit2_general_test.sh b/shunit2_general_test.sh
index c7e13a4..c6d245a 100755
--- a/shunit2_general_test.sh
+++ b/shunit2_general_test.sh
@@ -20,62 +20,130 @@ stderrF="${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/STDERR"
 # Load test helpers.
 . ./shunit2_test_helpers
 
-testSkipping() {
-  # We shouldn't be skipping to start.
-  if isSkipping; then
-    th_error 'skipping *should not be* enabled'
+testAssertsSkipping() {
+  # We shouldn't be assert skipping to start.
+  if isSkippingAsserts; then
+    th_error 'assert skipping *should not be* enabled'
     return
   fi
 
-  startSkipping
+  startSkippingAsserts
   was_skipping_started=${SHUNIT_FALSE}
-  if isSkipping; then was_skipping_started=${SHUNIT_TRUE}; fi
+  if isSkippingAsserts; then was_skipping_started=${SHUNIT_TRUE}; fi
 
-  endSkipping
+  endSkippingAsserts
   was_skipping_ended=${SHUNIT_FALSE}
-  if isSkipping; then was_skipping_ended=${SHUNIT_TRUE}; fi
+  if isSkippingAsserts; then was_skipping_ended=${SHUNIT_TRUE}; fi
 
-  assertEquals "skipping wasn't started" "${was_skipping_started}" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
-  assertNotEquals "skipping wasn't ended" "${was_skipping_ended}" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+  assertEquals "assert skipping wasn't started" "${was_skipping_started}" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+  assertNotEquals "assert skipping wasn't ended" "${was_skipping_ended}" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
   return 0
 }
 
-testStartSkippingWithMessage() {
+testStartSkippingAssertsWithMessage() {
   unittestF="${SHUNIT_TMPDIR}/unittest"
   sed 's/^#//' >"${unittestF}" <<\EOF
 ## Start skipping with a message.
 #testSkipping() {
-#  startSkipping 'SKIP-a-Dee-Doo-Dah'
+#  startSkippingAsserts 'SKIP-a-Dee-Doo-Dah'
 #}
 #SHUNIT_COLOR='none'
 #. ${TH_SHUNIT}
 EOF
-  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `FAILED` in the output.
+  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `skipping asserts` in stderr.
   ( exec "${SHELL:-sh}" "${unittestF}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" ) || :
-  if ! grep '\[skipping\] SKIP-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
+  if ! grep '\[skipping asserts\] SKIP-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
     fail 'skipping message was not generated'
   fi
   return 0
 }
 
-testStartSkippingWithoutMessage() {
+testStartSkippingAssertsWithoutMessage() {
   unittestF="${SHUNIT_TMPDIR}/unittest"
   sed 's/^#//' >"${unittestF}" <<\EOF
 ## Start skipping with a message.
 #testSkipping() {
-#  startSkipping
+#  startSkippingAsserts
 #}
 #SHUNIT_COLOR='none'
 #. ${TH_SHUNIT}
 EOF
-  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `FAILED` in the output.
+  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `skipping asserts` in stderr.
   ( exec "${SHELL:-sh}" "${unittestF}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" ) || :
-  if grep '\[skipping\]' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
+  if grep '\[skipping asserts\]' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
     fail 'skipping message was unexpectedly generated'
   fi
   return 0
 }
 
+testSkippingTests() {
+  unittestF="${SHUNIT_TMPDIR}/unittest"
+  sed 's/^#//' >"${unittestF}" <<\EOF
+## Start skipping with a message.
+#testSkipping() {
+#  skipTest "Example of test skipping"
+#  assertFalse "TRUE should be FALSE?" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+#  assertTrue "FALSE should be TRUE?" "${SHUNIT_FALSE}"
+#}
+#SHUNIT_COLOR='none'
+#. ${TH_SHUNIT}
+EOF
+  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `skipping tests` in stderr
+  ( exec "${SHELL:-sh}" "${unittestF}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" ) || :
+  if ! grep '\[skipping test\]' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
+    fail 'skipping test message was not generated'
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+testSkippingTestsWithAssertSkippingEnabledBeforeSkipTest() {
+  unittestF="${SHUNIT_TMPDIR}/unittest"
+  sed 's/^#//' >"${unittestF}" <<\EOF
+## Start skipping with a message.
+#testSkipping() {
+#  startSkippingAsserts
+#  skipTest "Example of test skipping"
+#  assertFalse "TRUE should be FALSE?" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+#  assertTrue "FALSE should be TRUE?" "${SHUNIT_FALSE}"
+#}
+#SHUNIT_COLOR='none'
+#. ${TH_SHUNIT}
+EOF
+  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `` in stderr.
+  ( exec "${SHELL:-sh}" "${unittestF}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" ) || :
+  if ! grep 'skipTest function MUST be called as the first thing in the test function!' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
+    fail 'skipping test error message was not generated'
+  fi
+  if ! grep 'FAILED' "${stdoutF}" >/dev/null; then
+    fail 'test should have failed'
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+testSkippingTestsWithAssertBeforeSkipTest() {
+  unittestF="${SHUNIT_TMPDIR}/unittest"
+  sed 's/^#//' >"${unittestF}" <<\EOF
+## Start skipping with a message.
+#testSkipping() {
+#  assertTrue "TRUE-TRUE" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+#  skipTest "Example of test skipping"
+#  assertFalse "TRUE should be FALSE?" "${SHUNIT_TRUE}"
+#  assertTrue "FALSE should be TRUE?" "${SHUNIT_FALSE}"
+#}
+#SHUNIT_COLOR='none'
+#. ${TH_SHUNIT}
+EOF
+  # Ignoring errors with `|| :` as we only care about `` in stderr.
+  ( exec "${SHELL:-sh}" "${unittestF}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" ) || :
+  if ! grep 'skipTest function MUST be called as the first thing in the test function!' "${stderrF}" >/dev/null; then
+    fail 'skipping test error message was not generated'
+  fi
+  if ! grep 'FAILED' "${stdoutF}" >/dev/null; then
+    fail 'test should have failed'
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
 setUp() {
   for f in "${stdoutF}" "${stderrF}"; do
     cp /dev/null "${f}"
diff --git a/shunit2_macros_test.sh b/shunit2_macros_test.sh
index a6d7e1e..daf7ba1 100755
--- a/shunit2_macros_test.sh
+++ b/shunit2_macros_test.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ stderrF="${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/STDERR"
 . ./shunit2_test_helpers
 
 testAssertEquals() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_EQUALS_} 'x' 'y' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ testAssertEquals() {
 }
 
 testAssertNotEquals() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_NOT_EQUALS_} 'x' 'x' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ testAssertNotEquals() {
 }
 
 testSame() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_SAME_} 'x' 'y' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ testSame() {
 }
 
 testNotSame() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_NOT_SAME_} 'x' 'x' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ testNotSame() {
 }
 
 testNull() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_NULL_} 'x' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ testNull() {
 }
 
 testNotNull() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_NOT_NULL_} '' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ testNotNull() {
 }
 
 testAssertTrue() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_TRUE_} "${SHUNIT_FALSE}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ testAssertTrue() {
 }
 
 testAssertFalse() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_ASSERT_FALSE_} "${SHUNIT_TRUE}" >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ testAssertFalse() {
 }
 
 testFail() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_FAIL_} >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ testFail() {
 }
 
 testFailNotEquals() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_FAIL_NOT_EQUALS_} 'x' 'y' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ testFailNotEquals() {
 }
 
 testFailSame() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_FAIL_SAME_} 'x' 'x' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ testFailSame() {
 }
 
 testFailNotSame() {
-  isLinenoWorking || startSkipping
+  isLinenoWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   ( ${_FAIL_NOT_SAME_} 'x' 'y' >"${stdoutF}" 2>"${stderrF}" )
   if ! wasAssertGenerated; then
diff --git a/shunit2_misc_test.sh b/shunit2_misc_test.sh
index 12cc2d4..11f80e6 100755
--- a/shunit2_misc_test.sh
+++ b/shunit2_misc_test.sh
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ EOF
 testIssue123() {
   if [ -z "${BASH_SUBSHELL:-}" ]; then
     # shellcheck disable=SC2016
-    startSkipping 'The ${BASH_SUBSHELL} variable is unavailable in this shell.'
+    startSkippingAsserts 'The ${BASH_SUBSHELL} variable is unavailable in this shell.'
   fi
   # shellcheck disable=SC2016
   assertTrue 'not in subshell' '[[ ${BASH_SUBSHELL} -eq 0 ]]'
diff --git a/shunit2_shopt_test.sh b/shunit2_shopt_test.sh
index b373f5b..3cbf6ed 100755
--- a/shunit2_shopt_test.sh
+++ b/shunit2_shopt_test.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 SHOPT_CMD='shopt'
 
 testNullglob() {
-  isShoptWorking || startSkipping
+  isShoptWorking || startSkippingAsserts
 
   nullglob=$(${SHOPT_CMD} nullglob |cut -f2)
 
diff --git a/shunit2_test_helpers b/shunit2_test_helpers
index 1add9b8..a993066 100644
--- a/shunit2_test_helpers
+++ b/shunit2_test_helpers
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ th_queryReturn() {
 # Providing external and internal calls to the showOutput helper function.
 th_showOutput() { _th_showOutput "$@"; }
 _th_showOutput() {
-  if isSkipping; then
+  if isSkippingAsserts; then
     return
   fi