diff --git a/cmd/cheat/cmd_list.go b/cmd/cheat/cmd_list.go
index 2e41a25..502fa80 100644
--- a/cmd/cheat/cmd_list.go
+++ b/cmd/cheat/cmd_list.go
@@ -81,9 +81,9 @@ func cmdList(opts map[string]interface{}, conf config.Config) {
 		flattened = filtered
 	}
 
-	// exit early if no cheatsheets are available
+	// return exit code 2 if no cheatsheets are available
 	if len(flattened) == 0 {
-		os.Exit(0)
+		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
 	// initialize a tabwriter to produce cleanly columnized output
diff --git a/cmd/cheat/cmd_remove.go b/cmd/cheat/cmd_remove.go
index caaa09a..072e525 100644
--- a/cmd/cheat/cmd_remove.go
+++ b/cmd/cheat/cmd_remove.go
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ func cmdRemove(opts map[string]interface{}, conf config.Config) {
 	// fail early if the requested cheatsheet does not exist
 	sheet, ok := consolidated[cheatsheet]
 	if !ok {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, fmt.Sprintf("no cheatsheet found for '%s'.\n", cheatsheet))
-		os.Exit(1)
+		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, fmt.Sprintf("No cheatsheet found for '%s'.\n", cheatsheet))
+		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
 	// fail early if the sheet is read-only
diff --git a/cmd/cheat/cmd_search.go b/cmd/cheat/cmd_search.go
index f497831..3606b88 100644
--- a/cmd/cheat/cmd_search.go
+++ b/cmd/cheat/cmd_search.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func cmdSearch(opts map[string]interface{}, conf config.Config) {
 		s, ok := consolidated[cheatsheet]
 		if !ok {
 			fmt.Printf("No cheatsheet found for '%s'.\n", cheatsheet)
-			os.Exit(0)
+			os.Exit(2)
 		}
 
 		consolidated = map[string]sheet.Sheet{
diff --git a/cmd/cheat/cmd_view.go b/cmd/cheat/cmd_view.go
index 3e0aade..2f4c550 100644
--- a/cmd/cheat/cmd_view.go
+++ b/cmd/cheat/cmd_view.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ func cmdView(opts map[string]interface{}, conf config.Config) {
 	sheet, ok := consolidated[cheatsheet]
 	if !ok {
 		fmt.Printf("No cheatsheet found for '%s'.\n", cheatsheet)
-		os.Exit(0)
+		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
 	// apply colorization if requested
diff --git a/doc/cheat.1 b/doc/cheat.1
index 5b2c932..cc19064 100644
--- a/doc/cheat.1
+++ b/doc/cheat.1
@@ -203,6 +203,13 @@ If set, autocompletion scripts will attempt to integrate with
 \f[B]fzf\f[].
 .RS
 .RE
+.SH RETURN VALUES
+.IP "0." 3
+Successful termination
+.IP "1." 3
+Application error
+.IP "2." 3
+Cheatsheet(s) not found
 .SH BUGS
 .PP
 See GitHub issues: <https://github.com/cheat/cheat/issues>
diff --git a/doc/cheat.1.md b/doc/cheat.1.md
index f587195..eb9c1ae 100644
--- a/doc/cheat.1.md
+++ b/doc/cheat.1.md
@@ -163,6 +163,15 @@ set, all other config paths will be ignored.
 
 : If set, autocompletion scripts will attempt to integrate with **fzf**.
 
+RETURN VALUES
+=============
+
+0. Successful termination
+
+1. Application error
+
+2. Cheatsheet(s) not found
+
 
 BUGS
 ====