diff --git a/getgauge/exceptions.py b/getgauge/exceptions.py
index 04fbd90..65b94fa 100644
--- a/getgauge/exceptions.py
+++ b/getgauge/exceptions.py
@@ -2,3 +2,9 @@ class MultipleImplementationFoundException(Exception):
     def __init__(self, message):
         super().__init__(message)
         self.message = message
+
+
+class SkipScenarioException(Exception):
+    def __init__(self, message):
+        super().__init__(message)
+        self.message = message
diff --git a/getgauge/executor.py b/getgauge/executor.py
index aeda180..c37b678 100644
--- a/getgauge/executor.py
+++ b/getgauge/executor.py
@@ -4,9 +4,10 @@
 import time
 import traceback
 
-from getgauge.messages.messages_pb2 import ExecutionStatusResponse, Message
+from getgauge.exceptions import SkipScenarioException
+from getgauge.messages.messages_pb2 import ExecutionStatusResponse
 from getgauge.messages.spec_pb2 import ProtoExecutionResult
-from getgauge.registry import MessagesStore, ScreenshotsStore, registry
+from getgauge.registry import MessagesStore, ScreenshotsStore
 
 
 def create_execution_status_response():
@@ -23,7 +24,8 @@ def run_hook(request, hooks, execution_info):
     return response
 
 
-def _false(func, exception): return False
+def _false(func, exception):
+    return False
 
 
 def execute_method(params, step, response, is_continue_on_failure=_false):
@@ -31,6 +33,9 @@ def execute_method(params, step, response, is_continue_on_failure=_false):
     try:
         params = _get_args(params, step)
         step.impl(*params)
+    except SkipScenarioException as e:
+        response.executionResult.skipScenario = True
+        MessagesStore.write_message(str(e))
     except Exception as e:
         _add_exception(e, response, is_continue_on_failure(step.impl, e))
     response.executionResult.executionTime = _current_time() - start
@@ -38,7 +43,8 @@ def execute_method(params, step, response, is_continue_on_failure=_false):
     response.executionResult.screenshotFiles.extend(ScreenshotsStore.pending_screenshots())
 
 
-def _current_time(): return int(round(time.time() * 1000))
+def _current_time():
+    return int(round(time.time() * 1000))
 
 
 def _get_args(params, hook_or_step):
@@ -57,7 +63,7 @@ def _add_exception(e, response, continue_on_failure):
         screenshot = ScreenshotsStore.capture_to_file()
         response.executionResult.failureScreenshotFile = screenshot
     response.executionResult.failed = True
-    message = e.__str__()
+    message = str(e)
     if not message:
         message = "Exception occurred"
     response.executionResult.errorMessage = message
diff --git a/python.json b/python.json
index b47fbd4..e64bace 100644
--- a/python.json
+++ b/python.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "id": "python",
-  "version": "0.4.6",
+  "version": "0.4.7",
   "description": "Python support for gauge",
   "run": {
     "windows": [
diff --git a/tests/test_processor.py b/tests/test_processor.py
index c1cfe87..45afc0d 100644
--- a/tests/test_processor.py
+++ b/tests/test_processor.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 from getgauge import processor
 from getgauge import static_loader as loader
+from getgauge.exceptions import SkipScenarioException
 from getgauge.messages.messages_pb2 import *
 from getgauge.messages.spec_pb2 import Parameter, ProtoExecutionResult, Span
 from getgauge.parser import Parser
@@ -183,6 +184,8 @@ def test_Processor_execute_step_request(self):
             '', response.executionResult.errorMessage)
         self.assertEqual(
             '', response.executionResult.stackTrace)
+        self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.skipScenario)
+        self.assertEqual([], response.executionResult.message)
 
     def test_Processor_execute_step_request_with_param(self):
         registry.add_step('Step <a> with <b>', impl, '')
@@ -204,6 +207,8 @@ def test_Processor_execute_step_request_with_param(self):
             '', response.executionResult.errorMessage)
         self.assertEqual(
             '', response.executionResult.stackTrace)
+        self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.skipScenario)
+        self.assertEqual([], response.executionResult.message)
 
     def test_Processor_failed_execute_step_request(self):
         request = ExecuteStepRequest()
@@ -219,6 +224,8 @@ def test_Processor_failed_execute_step_request(self):
         self.assertNotEqual(
             '', response.executionResult.stackTrace)
         self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.recoverableError)
+        self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.skipScenario)
+        self.assertEqual([], response.executionResult.message)
 
     def test_Processor_failed_execute_step_request_with_continue_on_failure(self):
         registry.add_step('Step 4', failing_impl, '')
@@ -236,6 +243,25 @@ def test_Processor_failed_execute_step_request_with_continue_on_failure(self):
         self.assertNotEqual('', response.executionResult.errorMessage)
         self.assertNotEqual('', response.executionResult.stackTrace)
         self.assertTrue(response.executionResult.recoverableError)
+        self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.skipScenario)
+        self.assertEqual([], response.executionResult.message)
+
+    def test_Processor_failed_execute_step_request_with_programmatic_skip(self):
+        registry.add_step('Skipped Step', skipped_impl, '')
+
+        request = ExecuteStepRequest()
+        request.parsedStepText = 'Skipped Step'
+
+        response = processor.process_execute_step_request(request)
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(response, ExecutionStatusResponse)
+        self.assertFalse(response.executionResult.failed)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            '', response.executionResult.errorMessage)
+        self.assertEqual(
+            '', response.executionResult.stackTrace)
+        self.assertTrue(response.executionResult.skipScenario)
+        self.assertEqual(['Step programmatically skipped'], response.executionResult.message)
 
     def test_Processor_starting_execution_request(self):
         registry.add_before_suite(impl1)
@@ -748,6 +774,9 @@ def impl2(context):
 def failing_impl():
     print([][1])
 
+def skipped_impl():
+    raise SkipScenarioException("Step programmatically skipped")
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()