diff --git a/hgext/fetch.py b/hgext/fetch.py
--- a/hgext/fetch.py
+++ b/hgext/fetch.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def fetch(ui, repo, source='default', **
     order, use --switch-parent.
 
     See :hg:`help dates` for a list of formats valid for -d/--date.
+
+    Returns 0 on success.
     '''
 
     date = opts.get('date')
@@ -86,7 +88,7 @@ def fetch(ui, repo, source='default', **
             if newchildren[0] != parent:
                 return hg.clean(repo, newchildren[0])
             else:
-                return
+                return 0
 
         # Are there more than one additional branch heads?
         newchildren = [n for n in newchildren if n != parent]
@@ -99,7 +101,7 @@ def fetch(ui, repo, source='default', **
             ui.status(_('not merging with %d other new branch heads '
                         '(use "hg heads ." and "hg merge" to merge them)\n') %
                       (len(newheads) - 1))
-            return
+            return 1
 
         # Otherwise, let's merge.
         err = False
@@ -132,6 +134,8 @@ def fetch(ui, repo, source='default', **
                         'with local\n') % (repo.changelog.rev(n),
                                            short(n)))
 
+        return err
+
     finally:
         release(lock, wlock)
 
diff --git a/tests/test-fetch.t b/tests/test-fetch.t
--- a/tests/test-fetch.t
+++ b/tests/test-fetch.t
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ heads) with a local change
   adding file changes
   added 3 changesets with 2 changes to 1 files (+2 heads)
   not merging with 1 other new branch heads (use "hg heads ." and "hg merge" to merge them)
+  [1]
 
 parent should be 3 (fetch did not merge anything)