diff --git a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Application.php b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Application.php
index 2c7d3de736..d4ad03a02f 100644
--- a/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Application.php
+++ b/src/Symfony/Component/Console/Application.php
@@ -126,9 +126,11 @@ class Application
         }
 
         if ($this->autoExit) {
-            // ensure exit code is between 0-254 (255 is reserved by PHP and should not be used)
+            if ($statusCode > 255) {
+                $statusCode = 255;
+            }
             // @codeCoverageIgnoreStart
-            exit(max(0, min(254, $statusCode)));
+            exit($statusCode);
             // @codeCoverageIgnoreEnd
         }