diff --git a/tests/test_flask.py b/tests/test_flask.py
index e5add1f..33b7cca 100644
--- a/tests/test_flask.py
+++ b/tests/test_flask.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import unittest
-from flask import Flask, json
+from flask import Flask, json, abort
 from wsmeext.flask import signature
 from wsme.api import Response
 from wsme.types import Base, text
@@ -46,6 +46,20 @@ def get_model(name):
     return Model(name=name)
 
 
+@test_app.route('/models/<name>/secret')
+@signature(Model, text)
+def model_secret(name):
+    abort(403, description="You're not allowed in there!")
+
+
+@test_app.route('/models/<name>/custom-error')
+@signature(Model, text)
+def model_custom_error(name):
+    class CustomError(Exception):
+        code = 412
+    raise CustomError("FOO!")
+
+
 @test_app.route('/models', methods=['POST'])
 @signature(Model, body=Model)
 def post_model(body):
@@ -111,6 +125,40 @@ class FlaskrTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         resp = self.app.get('/status_response')
         assert resp.status_code == 201
 
+    def test_custom_clientside_error(self):
+        r = self.app.get(
+            '/models/test/secret',
+            headers={'Accept': 'application/json'}
+        )
+        assert r.status_code == 403, r.status_code
+        assert json.loads(r.data)['faultstring'] == '403: Forbidden'
+
+        r = self.app.get(
+            '/models/test/secret',
+            headers={'Accept': 'application/xml'}
+        )
+        assert r.status_code == 403, r.status_code
+        assert r.data == ('<error><faultcode>Server</faultcode>'
+                          '<faultstring>403: Forbidden</faultstring>'
+                          '<debuginfo /></error>')
+
+    def test_custom_non_http_clientside_error(self):
+        r = self.app.get(
+            '/models/test/custom-error',
+            headers={'Accept': 'application/json'}
+        )
+        assert r.status_code == 412, r.status_code
+        assert json.loads(r.data)['faultstring'] == 'FOO!'
+
+        r = self.app.get(
+            '/models/test/custom-error',
+            headers={'Accept': 'application/xml'}
+        )
+        assert r.status_code == 412, r.status_code
+        assert r.data == ('<error><faultcode>Server</faultcode>'
+                          '<faultstring>FOO!</faultstring>'
+                          '<debuginfo /></error>')
+
     def test_serversideerror(self):
         r = self.app.get('/divide_by_zero')
         assert r.status_code == 500
diff --git a/wsmeext/flask.py b/wsmeext/flask.py
index f9f5b79..4abd3dd 100644
--- a/wsmeext/flask.py
+++ b/wsmeext/flask.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import wsme.api
 import wsme.rest.json
 import wsme.rest.xml
 import wsme.rest.args
+from wsmeext.utils import is_valid_code
 
 import flask
 
@@ -78,10 +79,19 @@ def signature(*args, **kw):
                 res.mimetype = dataformat.content_type
                 res.status_code = status_code
             except:
-                data = wsme.api.format_exception(sys.exc_info())
+                try:
+                    exception_info = sys.exc_info()
+                    orig_exception = exception_info[1]
+                    orig_code = getattr(orig_exception, 'code', None)
+                    data = wsme.api.format_exception(exception_info)
+                finally:
+                    del exception_info
+
                 res = flask.make_response(dataformat.encode_error(None, data))
                 if data['faultcode'] == 'client':
                     res.status_code = 400
+                elif orig_code and is_valid_code(orig_code):
+                    res.status_code = orig_code
                 else:
                     res.status_code = 500
             return res