diff --git a/py/_plugin/pytest_skipping.py b/py/_plugin/pytest_skipping.py
index 915238f94..c7de83924 100644
--- a/py/_plugin/pytest_skipping.py
+++ b/py/_plugin/pytest_skipping.py
@@ -218,11 +218,12 @@ def pytest_runtest_makereport(__multicall__, item, call):
         if not evalxfail:
             return
     if call.excinfo and call.excinfo.errisinstance(py.test.xfail.Exception):
-        rep = __multicall__.execute()
-        rep.keywords['xfail'] = "reason: " + call.excinfo.value.msg
-        rep.skipped = True
-        rep.failed = False
-        return rep
+        if not item.config.getvalue("runxfail"):
+            rep = __multicall__.execute()
+            rep.keywords['xfail'] = "reason: " + call.excinfo.value.msg
+            rep.skipped = True
+            rep.failed = False
+            return rep
     if call.when == "setup":
         rep = __multicall__.execute()
         if rep.skipped and evalxfail.istrue():
diff --git a/testing/plugin/test_pytest_skipping.py b/testing/plugin/test_pytest_skipping.py
index 2058a5fb0..e2923cedb 100644
--- a/testing/plugin/test_pytest_skipping.py
+++ b/testing/plugin/test_pytest_skipping.py
@@ -216,6 +216,11 @@ class TestXFail:
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
             "*XFAIL*test_this*reason:*hello*",
         ])
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p, "--runxfail")
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
+            "*def test_this():*",
+            "*py.test.xfail*",
+        ])
 
     def test_xfail_imperative_in_setup_function(self, testdir):
         p = testdir.makepyfile("""
@@ -234,6 +239,11 @@ class TestXFail:
         result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
             "*XFAIL*test_this*reason:*hello*",
         ])
+        result = testdir.runpytest(p, "--runxfail")
+        result.stdout.fnmatch_lines([
+            "*def setup_function(function):*",
+            "*py.test.xfail*",
+        ])