diff --git a/pytest-embedded/pytest_embedded/plugin.py b/pytest-embedded/pytest_embedded/plugin.py
index 29a12eba..70af0d45 100644
--- a/pytest-embedded/pytest_embedded/plugin.py
+++ b/pytest-embedded/pytest_embedded/plugin.py
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ def pytest_runtest_call(self, item: Function):
         self._raise_dut_failed_cases_if_exists(all_duts)  # type: ignore
 
     @pytest.hookimpl(trylast=True)  # combine all possible junit reports should be the last step
-    def pytest_sessionfinish(self, session: Session) -> None:
+    def pytest_sessionfinish(self, session: Session, exitstatus: int) -> None:
         modifier: JunitMerger = session.config.stash[_junit_merger_key]
         _stash_session_tempdir = session.config.stash.get(_session_tempdir_key, None)
         _stash_junit_report_path = session.config.stash.get(_junit_report_path_key, None)
@@ -1573,8 +1573,4 @@ def pytest_sessionfinish(self, session: Session) -> None:
             if self.prettify_junit_report:
                 _prettify_xml(_stash_junit_report_path)
 
-        # escalate the session exit status to failure if the merged junit report contains failures,
-        # without downgrading an already-failing run
-        current_exitstatus = getattr(session, 'exitstatus', pytest.ExitCode.OK)
-        if modifier.failed and current_exitstatus == pytest.ExitCode.OK:
-            session.exitstatus = pytest.ExitCode.TESTS_FAILED
+        exitstatus = int(modifier.failed)  # True -> 1  False -> 0  # noqa