diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8490f00e..d4feae09 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
     - `bashunit init [dir]` - initialize project (replaces `--init`)
     - `bashunit learn` - interactive tutorial (replaces `--learn`)
     - `bashunit upgrade` - upgrade to latest (replaces `--upgrade`)
+- **BREAKING:** Tests now stop at first assertion failure within a test function
+    - Matches PHPUnit and Jest default behavior
+    - Subsequent assertions in the same test are skipped after a failure
+    - Other test functions continue to run normally
 
 ### Fixed
 - Stop executing remaining commands in `set_up`/`tear_down` after first failure
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index ddafc6f5..fab0fa16 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -85,6 +85,12 @@ Force to stop the runner right after encountering one failing test. `false` by d
 
 Similar as using `-S|--stop-on-failure` option on the [command line](/command-line#stop-on-failure).
 
+::: tip Assertion behavior
+When an assertion fails within a test, subsequent assertions in the same test are automatically skipped. This matches popular testing libraries default behavior and prevents misleading failures caused by earlier assertion failures.
+
+The `--stop-on-failure` flag is separate – it stops the entire test runner after a failing **test**, while assertion-level stopping happens automatically within each test.
+:::
+
 ## Show header
 
 > `BASHUNIT_SHOW_HEADER=true|false`
diff --git a/docs/custom-asserts.md b/docs/custom-asserts.md
index c0dcf94e..a85e4c83 100644
--- a/docs/custom-asserts.md
+++ b/docs/custom-asserts.md
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@
 Check the internal functional tests: `tests/functional/custom_asserts_test.sh` ([link](https://github.com/TypedDevs/bashunit/blob/main/tests/functional/custom_asserts_test.sh))
 :::
 
+::: info Assertion behavior
+When using the bashunit facade, assertions automatically respect the guard behavior: if a previous assertion in the same test already failed, subsequent assertions are skipped. This matches popular testing libraries default behavior.
+:::
+
 ## assertion_failed
 > `bashunit::assertion_failed <expected> <actual> <failure_condition_message?>`
 
diff --git a/src/assert.sh b/src/assert.sh
index 737969a7..c959faef 100755
--- a/src/assert.sh
+++ b/src/assert.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,34 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
+# Guard function: skip assertions if a previous assertion in this test already failed
+# This matches PHPUnit/Jest behavior where tests stop at first failure
+function assert::guard() {
+  if state::is_assertion_failed_in_test; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Helper to mark assertion as failed and set the guard flag
+function assert::mark_failed() {
+  state::add_assertions_failed
+  state::mark_assertion_failed_in_test
+}
+
 function fail() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local message="${1:-${FUNCNAME[1]}}"
 
   local label
   label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-  state::add_assertions_failed
+  assert::mark_failed
   console_results::print_failure_message "${label}" "$message"
 }
 
 function assert_true() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local actual="$1"
 
   # Check for expected literal values first
@@ -30,6 +49,8 @@ function assert_true() {
 }
 
 function assert_false() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local actual="$1"
 
   # Check for expected literal values first
@@ -68,18 +89,20 @@ function handle_bool_assertion_failure() {
   local label
   label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[2]}")"
 
-  state::add_assertions_failed
+  assert::mark_failed
   console_results::print_failed_test "$label" "$expected" "but got " "$got"
 }
 
 function assert_same() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if [[ "$expected" != "$actual" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "but got " "${actual}"
     return
   fi
@@ -88,6 +111,8 @@ function assert_same() {
 }
 
 function assert_equals() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
@@ -104,7 +129,7 @@ function assert_equals() {
   if [[ "$expected_cleaned" != "$actual_cleaned" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected_cleaned}" "but got " "${actual_cleaned}"
     return
   fi
@@ -113,6 +138,8 @@ function assert_equals() {
 }
 
 function assert_not_equals() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
@@ -129,7 +156,7 @@ function assert_not_equals() {
   if [[ "$expected_cleaned" == "$actual_cleaned" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected_cleaned}" "but got " "${actual_cleaned}"
     return
   fi
@@ -138,12 +165,14 @@ function assert_not_equals() {
 }
 
 function assert_empty() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
 
   if [[ "$expected" != "" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "to be empty" "but got " "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -152,12 +181,14 @@ function assert_empty() {
 }
 
 function assert_not_empty() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
 
   if [[ "$expected" == "" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "to not be empty" "but got " "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -166,13 +197,15 @@ function assert_not_empty() {
 }
 
 function assert_not_same() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if [[ "$expected" == "$actual" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" "but got " "${actual}"
     return
   fi
@@ -181,6 +214,8 @@ function assert_not_same() {
 }
 
 function assert_contains() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -189,7 +224,7 @@ function assert_contains() {
   if ! [[ $actual == *"$expected"* ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to contain" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -198,6 +233,8 @@ function assert_contains() {
 }
 
 function assert_contains_ignore_case() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
@@ -206,7 +243,7 @@ function assert_contains_ignore_case() {
   if ! [[ $actual =~ $expected ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to contain" "${expected}"
     shopt -u nocasematch
     return
@@ -217,6 +254,8 @@ function assert_contains_ignore_case() {
 }
 
 function assert_not_contains() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -225,7 +264,7 @@ function assert_not_contains() {
   if [[ $actual == *"$expected"* ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to not contain" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -234,6 +273,8 @@ function assert_not_contains() {
 }
 
 function assert_matches() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -242,7 +283,7 @@ function assert_matches() {
   if ! [[ $actual =~ $expected ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to match" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -251,6 +292,8 @@ function assert_matches() {
 }
 
 function assert_not_matches() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -259,7 +302,7 @@ function assert_not_matches() {
   if [[ $actual =~ $expected ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to not match" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -268,6 +311,8 @@ function assert_not_matches() {
 }
 
 function assert_exec() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local cmd="$1"
   shift
 
@@ -340,7 +385,7 @@ function assert_exec() {
   if [[ $failed -eq 1 ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "$label" "$expected_desc" "but got " "$actual_desc"
     return
   fi
@@ -349,13 +394,15 @@ function assert_exec() {
 }
 
 function assert_exit_code() {
-  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}
+  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}  # Capture $? before guard check
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected_exit_code="$1"
 
   if [[ "$actual_exit_code" -ne "$expected_exit_code" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual_exit_code}" "to be" "${expected_exit_code}"
     return
   fi
@@ -364,13 +411,15 @@ function assert_exit_code() {
 }
 
 function assert_successful_code() {
-  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}
+  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}  # Capture $? before guard check
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected_exit_code=0
 
   if [[ "$actual_exit_code" -ne "$expected_exit_code" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual_exit_code}" "to be exactly" "${expected_exit_code}"
     return
   fi
@@ -379,12 +428,13 @@ function assert_successful_code() {
 }
 
 function assert_unsuccessful_code() {
-  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}
+  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}  # Capture $? before guard check
+  assert::guard || return 0
 
   if [[ "$actual_exit_code" -eq 0 ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual_exit_code}" "to be non-zero" "but was 0"
     return
   fi
@@ -393,13 +443,15 @@ function assert_unsuccessful_code() {
 }
 
 function assert_general_error() {
-  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}
+  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}  # Capture $? before guard check
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected_exit_code=1
 
   if [[ "$actual_exit_code" -ne "$expected_exit_code" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual_exit_code}" "to be exactly" "${expected_exit_code}"
     return
   fi
@@ -408,13 +460,15 @@ function assert_general_error() {
 }
 
 function assert_command_not_found() {
-  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}
+  local actual_exit_code=${3-"$?"}  # Capture $? before guard check
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected_exit_code=127
 
   if [[ $actual_exit_code -ne "$expected_exit_code" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual_exit_code}" "to be exactly" "${expected_exit_code}"
     return
   fi
@@ -423,6 +477,8 @@ function assert_command_not_found() {
 }
 
 function assert_string_starts_with() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -431,7 +487,7 @@ function assert_string_starts_with() {
   if [[ $actual != "$expected"* ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to start with" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -440,13 +496,15 @@ function assert_string_starts_with() {
 }
 
 function assert_string_not_starts_with() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if [[ $actual == "$expected"* ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to not start with" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -455,6 +513,8 @@ function assert_string_not_starts_with() {
 }
 
 function assert_string_ends_with() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -463,7 +523,7 @@ function assert_string_ends_with() {
   if [[ $actual != *"$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to end with" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -472,6 +532,8 @@ function assert_string_ends_with() {
 }
 
 function assert_string_not_ends_with() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual_arr=("${@:2}")
   local actual
@@ -480,7 +542,7 @@ function assert_string_not_ends_with() {
   if [[ $actual == *"$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to not end with" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -489,13 +551,15 @@ function assert_string_not_ends_with() {
 }
 
 function assert_less_than() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if ! [[ "$actual" -lt "$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be less than" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -504,13 +568,15 @@ function assert_less_than() {
 }
 
 function assert_less_or_equal_than() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if ! [[ "$actual" -le "$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be less or equal than" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -519,13 +585,15 @@ function assert_less_or_equal_than() {
 }
 
 function assert_greater_than() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if ! [[ "$actual" -gt "$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be greater than" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -534,13 +602,15 @@ function assert_greater_than() {
 }
 
 function assert_greater_or_equal_than() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local actual="$2"
 
   if ! [[ "$actual" -ge "$expected" ]]; then
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${actual}" "to be greater or equal than" "${expected}"
     return
   fi
@@ -549,6 +619,8 @@ function assert_greater_or_equal_than() {
 }
 
 function assert_line_count() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected="$1"
   local input_arr=("${@:2}")
   local input_str
@@ -568,7 +640,7 @@ function assert_line_count() {
     local label
     label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[1]}")"
 
-    state::add_assertions_failed
+    assert::mark_failed
     console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${input_str}"\
       "to contain number of lines equal to" "${expected}"\
       "but found" "${actual}"
diff --git a/src/bashunit.sh b/src/bashunit.sh
index b61fb4cf..57a45b39 100644
--- a/src/bashunit.sh
+++ b/src/bashunit.sh
@@ -5,17 +5,21 @@
 # e.g. adding custom assertions
 
 function bashunit::assertion_failed() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   local expected=$1
   local actual=$2
   local failure_condition_message=${3:-"but got "}
 
   local label
   label="$(helper::normalize_test_function_name "${FUNCNAME[2]}")"
-  state::add_assertions_failed
+  assert::mark_failed
   console_results::print_failed_test "${label}" "${expected}" \
     "$failure_condition_message" "${actual}"
 }
 
 function bashunit::assertion_passed() {
+  assert::guard || return 0
+
   state::add_assertions_passed
 }
diff --git a/src/state.sh b/src/state.sh
index 74356839..7550872d 100644
--- a/src/state.sh
+++ b/src/state.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ _TEST_EXIT_CODE=0
 _TEST_HOOK_FAILURE=""
 _TEST_HOOK_MESSAGE=""
 _CURRENT_TEST_INTERPOLATED_NAME=""
+_ASSERTION_FAILED_IN_TEST=false
 
 function state::get_tests_passed() {
   echo "$_TESTS_PASSED"
@@ -184,6 +185,14 @@ function state::reset_test_hook_message() {
   _TEST_HOOK_MESSAGE=""
 }
 
+function state::is_assertion_failed_in_test() {
+  [[ "$_ASSERTION_FAILED_IN_TEST" == "true" ]]
+}
+
+function state::mark_assertion_failed_in_test() {
+  _ASSERTION_FAILED_IN_TEST=true
+}
+
 function state::set_duplicated_functions_merged() {
   state::set_duplicated_test_functions_found
   state::set_file_with_duplicated_function_names "$1"
@@ -200,6 +209,7 @@ function state::initialize_assertions_count() {
     _TEST_TITLE=""
     _TEST_HOOK_FAILURE=""
     _TEST_HOOK_MESSAGE=""
+    _ASSERTION_FAILED_IN_TEST=false
 }
 
 function state::export_subshell_context() {
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_fail_test_sh.test_bashunit_with_multiple_failing_tests.snapshot b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_fail_test_sh.test_bashunit_with_multiple_failing_tests.snapshot
index 2a30acb2..b6eba770 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_fail_test_sh.test_bashunit_with_multiple_failing_tests.snapshot
+++ b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_fail_test_sh.test_bashunit_with_multiple_failing_tests.snapshot
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 ✗ Failed: Assert failing
     Expected '1'
     but got  '2'
-✗ Failed: Assert failing
-    Expected '3'
-    but got  '4'
 ✒ Incomplete: Assert todo and skip    foo
 ↷ Skipped: Assert todo and skip    bar
 ↷ Skipped: Assert skip and todo    baz
@@ -17,11 +14,8 @@
 |✗ Failed: Assert failing
 |    Expected '1'
 |    but got  '2'
-|✗ Failed: Assert failing
-|    Expected '3'
-|    but got  '4'
 
 Tests:      1 passed, 0 skipped, 2 incomplete, 1 failed, 4 total
-Assertions: 1 passed, 2 skipped, 2 incomplete, 2 failed, 7 total
+Assertions: 1 passed, 2 skipped, 2 incomplete, 1 failed, 6 total
 
  Some tests failed 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env.snapshot b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env.snapshot
index 4d812a09..7f053a1d 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env.snapshot
+++ b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env.snapshot
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@
 |    but got  '2'
 
 Tests:      1 passed, 1 failed, 2 total
-Assertions: 3 passed, 1 failed, 4 total
+Assertions: 2 passed, 1 failed, 3 total
 
  Some tests failed 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env_simple_output.snapshot b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env_simple_output.snapshot
index a0f0ee49..7bb10683 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env_simple_output.snapshot
+++ b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_env_simple_output.snapshot
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@
 
 
 Tests:      1 passed, 1 failed, 2 total
-Assertions: 3 passed, 1 failed, 4 total
+Assertions: 2 passed, 1 failed, 3 total
 
  Some tests failed 
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_option.snapshot b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_option.snapshot
index 4d812a09..7f053a1d 100644
--- a/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_option.snapshot
+++ b/tests/acceptance/snapshots/bashunit_stop_on_failure_test_sh.test_bashunit_when_stop_on_failure_option.snapshot
@@ -13,6 +13,6 @@
 |    but got  '2'
 
 Tests:      1 passed, 1 failed, 2 total
-Assertions: 3 passed, 1 failed, 4 total
+Assertions: 2 passed, 1 failed, 3 total
 
  Some tests failed