diff --git a/datman/src/bin/datman.rs b/datman/src/bin/datman.rs
index eeac400..1628ab6 100644
--- a/datman/src/bin/datman.rs
+++ b/datman/src/bin/datman.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ use datman::remote::backup_source_requester::backup_remote_source_to_destination
 use datman::remote::backup_source_responder;
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
+pub const FAILURE_SYMBOL_OBNOXIOUS_FLASHING: &str = "\x1b[5m\x1b[31m⚠️ \x1b[25m\x1b[22m";
+pub const BOLD: &str = "\x1b[1m";
+pub const BOLD_OFF: &str = "\x1b[22m";
+pub const WHITE: &str = "\x1b[37m";
+pub const RED: &str = "\x1b[31m";
+pub const GREEN: &str = "\x1b[32m";
+
 #[derive(Clap)]
 pub enum DatmanCommand {
     /// Initialise a datman descriptor in this directory.
@@ -127,6 +134,33 @@ impl FromStr for HumanDateTime {
     }
 }
 
+fn with_obvious_successfail_message<R>(result: anyhow::Result<R>) -> anyhow::Result<R> {
+    match &result {
+        Ok(_) => {
+            eprintln!("Operation {}successful{}.", GREEN, WHITE);
+        }
+        Err(error) => {
+            eprintln!("{:?}", error);
+            eprintln!(
+                "{}{}Operation {}{}FAILED{}!{}",
+                FAILURE_SYMBOL_OBNOXIOUS_FLASHING, WHITE, RED, BOLD, WHITE, BOLD_OFF
+            );
+        }
+    };
+    result
+}
+
+fn with_exitcode<R>(result: anyhow::Result<R>) {
+    match &result {
+        Ok(_) => {
+            std::process::exit(0);
+        }
+        Err(_) => {
+            std::process::exit(5);
+        }
+    };
+}
+
 fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     env_logger::Builder::from_env(Env::default().default_filter_or("info")).init();
 
@@ -168,7 +202,7 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 }
             }
 
-            if let Some(remote_name) = remote {
+            let result = if let Some(remote_name) = remote {
                 let remote_host_descriptor =
                     if let Some(rhd) = descriptor.remote_hosts.get(&remote_name) {
                         rhd
@@ -185,7 +219,6 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                     remote_host_descriptor,
                     yama::utils::get_number_of_workers("YAMA_CHUNKERS"),
                 )
-                .unwrap();
             } else {
                 backup_source_to_destination(
                     source,
@@ -196,8 +229,8 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                     &destination_name,
                     yama::utils::get_number_of_workers("YAMA_CHUNKERS"),
                 )
-                .unwrap();
-            }
+            };
+            with_exitcode(with_obvious_successfail_message(result))
         }
         DatmanCommand::BackupAll { destination_name } => {
             let descriptor = load_descriptor(Path::new(".")).unwrap();
diff --git a/testsuite/datmantests/test_backup_and_extract.py b/testsuite/datmantests/test_backup_and_extract.py
index 58b61c7..c24acf9 100644
--- a/testsuite/datmantests/test_backup_and_extract.py
+++ b/testsuite/datmantests/test_backup_and_extract.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from tempfile import TemporaryDirectory
 from unittest import TestCase
 
 from helpers import DirectoryDescriptor, generate_random_dir, scan_dir
-from helpers.datman_helpers import set_up_simple_datman
+from helpers.datman_helpers import get_hostname, set_up_simple_datman
 from helpers.yama_helpers import set_up_simple_yama
 
 
@@ -59,3 +59,71 @@ class TestBackupAndExtract(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             value.ignore_metadata(), later_expected_descriptor.ignore_metadata()
         )
+
+    def test_backup_failure_is_loud(self):
+        """
+        Tests that backup failure is noticeable.
+        """
+
+        td = TemporaryDirectory("test_backup_failure_is_loud")
+        tdpath = Path(td.name)
+
+        datman_path = tdpath.joinpath("datman")
+        src_path = datman_path.joinpath("srca")
+        yama_path = datman_path.joinpath("main")
+
+        set_up_simple_datman(
+            datman_path,
+            f"""
+[source.srcimpossible]
+directory = "/path/to/absolutely/nowhere"
+hostname = "{get_hostname()}"
+
+[source.srcimpossible2]
+directory = "/path/to/absolutely/nowhere"
+hostname = "notmymachine"
+
+[source.srcimpossible3]
+helper = "failedhelper"
+label = "precious"
+kind = {{ stdout = "blahblah.txt" }}
+
+                             """,
+        )
+        set_up_simple_yama(yama_path)
+
+        rng = Random()
+        seed = rng.randint(0, 9001)
+        print(f"seed: {seed}")
+        rng.seed(seed)
+        later_expected_descriptor, _ = generate_random_dir(rng, src_path, 32)
+
+        impossible_proc = subprocess.run(
+            ("datman", "backup-one", "srcimpossible", "main"),
+            cwd=datman_path,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+        self.assertNotEqual(impossible_proc.returncode, 0)
+        last_line = impossible_proc.stderr.decode().split("\n")[-2]
+        self.assertIn("\x1b[31m\x1b[1mFAILED", last_line)
+
+        # NOT YET SUPPORTED
+        print("TEST FOR REMOTE SRC LOUDNESS NOT YET SUPPORTED")
+        # impossible_proc = subprocess.run(("datman", "backup-one",
+        # "srcimpossible2", "main"),
+        # cwd=datman_path,
+        #                                   stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
+        # self.assertNotEqual(impossible_proc.returncode, 0)
+        # last_line = impossible_proc.stderr.decode().split("\n")[-2]
+        # self.assertIn("\x1b[31m\x1b[1mFAILED", last_line)
+
+        impossible_proc = subprocess.run(
+            ("datman", "backup-one", "srcimpossible3", "main"),
+            cwd=datman_path,
+            stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+        )
+        self.assertNotEqual(impossible_proc.returncode, 0)
+        last_line = impossible_proc.stderr.decode().split("\n")[-2]
+        self.assertIn("\x1b[31m\x1b[1mFAILED", last_line)
+
+        td.cleanup()
diff --git a/testsuite/helpers/datman_helpers.py b/testsuite/helpers/datman_helpers.py
index cb7c8c8..26f297b 100644
--- a/testsuite/helpers/datman_helpers.py
+++ b/testsuite/helpers/datman_helpers.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Optional
 
 
 def get_hostname():
     return subprocess.check_output("hostname").strip().decode()
 
 
-def set_up_simple_datman(path: Path):
+def set_up_simple_datman(path: Path, custom_extra_test: Optional[str]):
     path.mkdir(exist_ok=True)
     subprocess.check_call(("datman", "init"), cwd=path)
 
@@ -22,3 +23,5 @@ path = "main"
 included_labels = ["precious"]
         """
         )
+        if custom_extra_test:
+            file.write(custom_extra_test)