diff --git a/tap.hpp b/tap.hpp
index d1502099..3a8b6c11 100644
--- a/tap.hpp
+++ b/tap.hpp
@@ -31,9 +31,20 @@ namespace cruft::TAP {
 
         //---------------------------------------------------------------------
         logger ();
+
         logger (std::ostream&);
         ~logger ();
 
+        // NOTE: explicitly disable copy constructors and all assignment
+        // operators so that we don't accidentally overwrite the contained
+        // status code in any instance. This value is required in all
+        // instances so that we can return the correct status code from a test
+        // binary.
+        logger (logger&&) = default;
+        logger (logger const &) = delete;
+        logger& operator= (logger const &) = delete;
+        logger& operator= (logger &&) = delete;
+
         //---------------------------------------------------------------------
         template <typename ...Args, size_t N>
         bool