diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/init.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/init.lua
index bc024375..fae98ed5 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/init.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/init.lua
@@ -135,25 +135,27 @@ end
 --- @param tree neotest.Tree
 --- @return table<string, neotest.Result> | nil
 function M.Adapter.results(spec, result, tree)
-  if spec.context.pos_type == "dir" then
+  local pos = tree:data()
+
+  if pos.type == "dir" then
     -- A test command executed a directory of tests and the output/status must
     -- now be processed.
     local results = process.test_results(spec, result, tree)
     M.workaround_neotest_issue_391(result)
     return results
-  elseif spec.context.pos_type == "file" then
+  elseif pos.type == "file" then
     -- A test command executed a file of tests and the output/status must
     -- now be processed.
     local results = process.test_results(spec, result, tree)
     M.workaround_neotest_issue_391(result)
     return results
-  elseif spec.context.pos_type == "namespace" then
+  elseif pos.type == "namespace" then
     -- A test command executed a namespace and the output/status must now be
     -- processed.
     local results = process.test_results(spec, result, tree)
     M.workaround_neotest_issue_391(result)
     return results
-  elseif spec.context.pos_type == "test" then
+  elseif pos.type == "test" then
     -- A test command executed a single test and the output/status must now be
     -- processed.
     local results = process.test_results(spec, result, tree)
@@ -163,7 +165,7 @@ function M.Adapter.results(spec, result, tree)
 
   logger.error(
     "Cannot process test results due to unknown Neotest position type:"
-      .. spec.context.pos_type
+      .. pos.type
   )
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/lib/cmd.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/lib/cmd.lua
index d227c810..a1e31c39 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/lib/cmd.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/lib/cmd.lua
@@ -8,21 +8,38 @@ local json = require("neotest-golang.lib.json")
 
 local M = {}
 
+--- Call 'go list -json {go_list_args...} ./...' to get test file data
+--- @param cwd string
 function M.golist_data(cwd)
-  -- call 'go list -json {go_list_args...} ./...' to get test file data
+  local cmd = M.golist_command()
+  local go_list_command_concat = table.concat(cmd, " ")
+  logger.debug("Running Go list: " .. go_list_command_concat .. " in " .. cwd)
+  local result = vim.system(cmd, { cwd = cwd, text = true }):wait()
+
+  local err = nil
+  if result.code == 1 then
+    err = "go list:"
+    if result.stdout ~= nil and result.stdout ~= "" then
+      err = err .. " " .. result.stdout
+    end
+    if result.stdout ~= nil and result.stderr ~= "" then
+      err = err .. " " .. result.stderr
+    end
+    logger.debug({ "Go list error: ", err })
+  end
+
+  local output = result.stdout or ""
+
+  local golist_output = json.decode_from_string(output)
+  logger.debug({ "JSON-decoded 'go list' output: ", golist_output })
+  return golist_output, err
+end
 
-  -- combine base command, user args and packages(./...)
+function M.golist_command()
   local cmd = { "go", "list", "-json" }
   vim.list_extend(cmd, options.get().go_list_args or {})
   vim.list_extend(cmd, { "./..." })
-
-  local go_list_command_concat = table.concat(cmd, " ")
-  logger.debug("Running Go list: " .. go_list_command_concat .. " in " .. cwd)
-  local output = vim.system(cmd, { cwd = cwd, text = true }):wait().stdout or ""
-  if output == "" then
-    logger.error({ "Execution of 'go list' failed, output:", output })
-  end
-  return json.decode_from_string(output)
+  return cmd
 end
 
 function M.test_command_in_package(package_or_path)
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/lib/json.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/lib/json.lua
index 2c0b909d..840a067d 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/lib/json.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/lib/json.lua
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ local M = {}
 
 --- Decode JSON from a table of strings into a table of objects.
 --- @param tbl table
+--- @param construct_invalid boolean
 --- @return table
-function M.decode_from_table(tbl)
+function M.decode_from_table(tbl, construct_invalid)
   local jsonlines = {}
   for _, line in ipairs(tbl) do
     if string.match(line, "^%s*{") then -- must start with the `{` character
@@ -19,7 +20,11 @@ function M.decode_from_table(tbl)
         logger.warn("Failed to decode JSON line: " .. line)
       end
     else
-      -- vim.notify("Not valid JSON: " .. line, vim.log.levels.DEBUG)
+      logger.debug({ "Not valid JSON:", line })
+      if construct_invalid then
+        -- this is for example errors from stderr, when there is a compilation error
+        table.insert(jsonlines, { Action = "output", Output = line })
+      end
     end
   end
   return jsonlines
@@ -40,7 +45,7 @@ function M.decode_from_string(str)
     current_object = current_object .. line
   end
   table.insert(tbl, current_object)
-  return M.decode_from_table(tbl)
+  return M.decode_from_table(tbl, false)
 end
 
 return M
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/process.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/process.lua
index 2d836be9..e09f96ff 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/process.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/process.lua
@@ -7,16 +7,12 @@ local logger = require("neotest-golang.logging")
 local options = require("neotest-golang.options")
 local lib = require("neotest-golang.lib")
 
--- TODO: remove pos_type when properly supporting all position types.
--- and instead get this from the pos.type field.
-
 --- @class RunspecContext
 --- @field pos_id string Neotest tree position id.
---- @field pos_type neotest.PositionType Neotest tree position type.
---- @field golist_data table<string, string> Filepath to 'go list' JSON data (lua table). -- TODO: rename to golist_data
---- @field parse_test_results boolean If true, parsing of test output will occur.
+--- @field golist_data table<string, string> The 'go list' JSON data (lua table).
+--- @field errors? table<string> Non-gotest errors to show in the final output.
+--- @field is_dap_active boolean? If true, parsing of test output will occur.
 --- @field test_output_json_filepath? string Gotestsum JSON filepath.
---- @field dummy_test? boolean Temporary workaround before supporting position type 'test'.
 
 --- @class TestData
 --- @field status neotest.ResultStatus
@@ -33,39 +29,32 @@ local lib = require("neotest-golang.lib")
 
 local M = {}
 
---- Process the results from the test command executing all tests in a
---- directory.
+--- Process the results from the test command.
 --- @param spec neotest.RunSpec
 --- @param result neotest.StrategyResult
 --- @param tree neotest.Tree
 --- @return table<string, neotest.Result>
 function M.test_results(spec, result, tree)
+  -- TODO: refactor this function into function calls; return_early, process_test_results, override_test_results.
+
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = spec.context
 
-  if context.parse_test_results == false then
-    ---@type table<string, neotest.Result>
-    local results = {}
-    results[context.pos_id] = {
-      ---@type neotest.ResultStatus
+  --- Final Neotest results, the way Neotest wants it returned.
+  --- @type table<string, neotest.Result>
+  local neotest_result = {}
+
+  -- ////// RETURN EARLY FOR DAP DEBUGGING //////
+
+  if context.is_dap_active then
+    -- return early if test result processing is not desired.
+    neotest_result[context.pos_id] = {
       status = "skipped",
     }
-    return results -- return early, fail fast
+    return neotest_result
   end
 
-  --- The Neotest position tree node for this execution.
-  --- @type neotest.Position
-  local pos = tree:data()
-
-  -- Sanity check
-  -- TODO: refactor so that we use pos.type and pos.id instead of passing them separately on the context
-  if options.get().dev_notifications == true then
-    if pos.id ~= context.pos_id then
-      logger.error(
-        "Neotest position id mismatch: " .. pos.id .. " vs " .. context.pos_id
-      )
-    end
-  end
+  -- ////// PROCESS TEST RESULTS FOR ALL POSITIONS (NODES) EXECUTED //////
 
   --- The runner to use for running tests.
   --- @type string
@@ -81,41 +70,12 @@ function M.test_results(spec, result, tree)
   end
   logger.debug({ "Raw 'go test' output: ", raw_output })
 
-  local gotest_output = lib.json.decode_from_table(raw_output)
-  logger.debug({ "Parsed 'go test' output: ", gotest_output })
-
   --- The 'go list -json' output, converted into a lua table.
   local golist_output = context.golist_data
-  logger.debug({ "Parsed 'go list' output: ", golist_output })
-
-  --- @type table<string, neotest.Result>
-  local neotest_result = {}
-
-  --- Test command (e.g. 'go test') status.
-  --- @type neotest.ResultStatus
-  local test_command_status = "skipped"
-  if result.code == 0 then
-    test_command_status = "passed"
-  else
-    test_command_status = "failed"
-  end
 
-  --- Full 'go test' output (parsed from JSON).
+  --- Go test output.
   --- @type table
-  local o = {}
-  local test_command_output_path = vim.fs.normalize(async.fn.tempname())
-  for _, line in ipairs(gotest_output) do
-    if line.Action == "output" then
-      table.insert(o, line.Output)
-    end
-  end
-  async.fn.writefile(o, test_command_output_path)
-
-  -- register properties on the directory node that was run
-  neotest_result[pos.id] = {
-    status = test_command_status,
-    output = test_command_output_path,
-  }
+  local gotest_output = lib.json.decode_from_table(raw_output, true)
 
   --- Internal data structure to store test result data.
   --- @type table<string, TestData>
@@ -126,17 +86,80 @@ function M.test_results(spec, result, tree)
   -- show various warnings
   M.show_warnings(res)
 
-  -- Convert internal test result data into final Neotest result.
-  local test_results = M.to_neotest_result(spec, result, res, gotest_output)
+  -- convert internal test result data into Neotest result.
+  local test_results = M.to_neotest_result(res)
   for k, v in pairs(test_results) do
     neotest_result[k] = v
   end
 
+  -- ////// OVERRIDE TEST RESULTS FOR THE POSITION (NODE) EXECUTED //////
+
+  --- The Neotest position tree node for this execution.
+  --- @type neotest.Position
+  local pos = tree:data()
+
+  --- Test command (e.g. 'go test') status.
+  --- @type neotest.ResultStatus
+  local result_status = nil
+  if neotest_result[pos.id] and neotest_result[pos.id].status == "skipped" then
+    -- keep the status if it was already decided to be skipped.
+    result_status = "skipped"
+  elseif context.errors ~= nil and #context.errors > 0 then
+    -- mark as failed if a non-gotest error occurred.
+    result_status = "failed"
+  elseif result.code > 0 then
+    -- mark as failed if the go test command failed.
+    result_status = "failed"
+  elseif result.code == 0 then
+    -- mark as passed if the 'go test' command passed.
+    result_status = "passed"
+  else
+    logger.error(
+      "Unexpected state when determining test status. Exit code was: "
+        .. result.code
+    )
+  end
+
+  -- override the position which was executed with the full
+  -- command execution output.
+  local cmd_output = M.filter_gotest_output(gotest_output)
+  cmd_output = vim.list_extend(context.errors or {}, cmd_output)
+  if #cmd_output == 0 and result.code ~= 0 and runner == "gotestsum" then
+    -- special case; gotestsum does not capture compilation errors from stderr.
+    cmd_output = { "Failed to run 'go test'. Compilation error?" }
+  end
+  local cmd_output_path = vim.fs.normalize(async.fn.tempname())
+  async.fn.writefile(cmd_output, cmd_output_path)
+  if neotest_result[pos.id] == nil then
+    -- set status and output as none of them have yet to be set.
+    neotest_result[pos.id] = {
+      status = result_status,
+      output = cmd_output_path,
+    }
+  else
+    -- only override status and output, keep errors.
+    neotest_result[pos.id].status = result_status
+    neotest_result[pos.id].output = cmd_output_path
+  end
+
   logger.debug({ "Final Neotest result data", neotest_result })
 
   return neotest_result
 end
 
+--- Filter on the Output-type parts of the 'go test' output.
+--- @param gotest_output table
+--- @return table<string>
+function M.filter_gotest_output(gotest_output)
+  local o = {}
+  for _, line in ipairs(gotest_output) do
+    if line.Action == "output" then
+      table.insert(o, line.Output)
+    end
+  end
+  return o
+end
+
 --- Aggregate neotest data and 'go test' output data.
 --- @param tree neotest.Tree
 --- @param gotest_output table
@@ -352,12 +375,9 @@ function M.show_warnings(d)
 end
 
 --- Populate final Neotest results based on internal test result data.
---- @param spec neotest.RunSpec
---- @param result neotest.StrategyResult
 --- @param res table<string, TestData>
---- @param gotest_output table
 --- @return table<string, neotest.Result>
-function M.to_neotest_result(spec, result, res, gotest_output)
+function M.to_neotest_result(res)
   --- Neotest results.
   --- @type table<string, neotest.Result>
   local neotest_result = {}
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/dir.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/dir.lua
index 237d0ac6..31f4e998 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/dir.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/dir.lua
@@ -24,7 +24,15 @@ function M.build(pos)
   end
 
   local go_mod_folderpath = vim.fn.fnamemodify(go_mod_filepath, ":h")
-  local golist_data = lib.cmd.golist_data(go_mod_folderpath)
+  local golist_data, golist_error = lib.cmd.golist_data(go_mod_folderpath)
+
+  local errors = nil
+  if golist_error ~= nil then
+    if errors == nil then
+      errors = {}
+    end
+    table.insert(errors, golist_error)
+  end
 
   -- find the go package that corresponds to the go_mod_folderpath
   local package_name = "./..."
@@ -44,9 +52,8 @@ function M.build(pos)
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = {
     pos_id = pos.id,
-    pos_type = "dir",
     golist_data = golist_data,
-    parse_test_results = true,
+    errors = errors,
     test_output_json_filepath = json_filepath,
   }
 
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/file.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/file.lua
index 531304ec..be9a7957 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/file.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/file.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,15 @@ function M.build(pos, tree)
   end
 
   local go_mod_folderpath = vim.fn.fnamemodify(go_mod_filepath, ":h")
-  local golist_data = lib.cmd.golist_data(go_mod_folderpath)
+  local golist_data, golist_error = lib.cmd.golist_data(go_mod_folderpath)
+
+  local errors = nil
+  if golist_error ~= nil then
+    if errors == nil then
+      errors = {}
+    end
+    table.insert(errors, golist_error)
+  end
 
   -- find the go package that corresponds to the pos.path
   local package_name = "./..."
@@ -58,9 +66,8 @@ function M.build(pos, tree)
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = {
     pos_id = pos.id,
-    pos_type = "file",
     golist_data = golist_data,
-    parse_test_results = true,
+    errors = errors,
     test_output_json_filepath = json_filepath,
   }
 
@@ -79,9 +86,7 @@ function M.return_skipped(pos)
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = {
     pos_id = pos.id,
-    pos_type = "file",
     golist_data = {}, -- no golist output
-    parse_test_results = false,
   }
 
   --- Runspec designed for files that contain no tests.
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/namespace.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/namespace.lua
index 4165ea46..dcc5779b 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/namespace.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/namespace.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 --- Helpers to build the command and context around running all tests in a namespace.
 
+local logger = require("neotest-golang.logging")
 local lib = require("neotest-golang.lib")
 
 local M = {}
@@ -8,12 +9,20 @@ local M = {}
 --- @param pos neotest.Position
 --- @return neotest.RunSpec | neotest.RunSpec[] | nil
 function M.build(pos)
-  --- @type string
   local test_folder_absolute_path =
     string.match(pos.path, "(.+)" .. lib.find.os_path_sep)
-  local golist_data = lib.cmd.golist_data(test_folder_absolute_path)
 
-  --- @type string
+  local golist_data, golist_error =
+    lib.cmd.golist_data(test_folder_absolute_path)
+
+  local errors = nil
+  if golist_error ~= nil then
+    if errors == nil then
+      errors = {}
+    end
+    table.insert(errors, golist_error)
+  end
+
   local test_name = lib.convert.to_gotest_test_name(pos.id)
   test_name = lib.convert.to_gotest_regex_pattern(test_name)
 
@@ -25,9 +34,8 @@ function M.build(pos)
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = {
     pos_id = pos.id,
-    pos_type = "namespace",
     golist_data = golist_data,
-    parse_test_results = true,
+    errors = errors,
     test_output_json_filepath = json_filepath,
   }
 
diff --git a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/test.lua b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/test.lua
index b9a3a058..1831178d 100644
--- a/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/test.lua
+++ b/lua/neotest-golang/runspec/test.lua
@@ -11,12 +11,20 @@ local M = {}
 --- @param strategy string
 --- @return neotest.RunSpec | neotest.RunSpec[] | nil
 function M.build(pos, strategy)
-  --- @type string
   local test_folder_absolute_path =
     string.match(pos.path, "(.+)" .. lib.find.os_path_sep)
-  local golist_data = lib.cmd.golist_data(test_folder_absolute_path)
 
-  --- @type string
+  local golist_data, golist_error =
+    lib.cmd.golist_data(test_folder_absolute_path)
+
+  local errors = nil
+  if golist_error ~= nil then
+    if errors == nil then
+      errors = {}
+    end
+    table.insert(errors, golist_error)
+  end
+
   local test_name = lib.convert.to_gotest_test_name(pos.id)
   local test_name_regex = lib.convert.to_gotest_regex_pattern(test_name)
 
@@ -36,9 +44,9 @@ function M.build(pos, strategy)
   --- @type RunspecContext
   local context = {
     pos_id = pos.id,
-    pos_type = "test",
     golist_data = golist_data,
-    parse_test_results = true,
+    errors = errors,
+    process_test_results = true,
     test_output_json_filepath = json_filepath,
   }
 
@@ -51,7 +59,7 @@ function M.build(pos, strategy)
 
   if runspec_strategy ~= nil then
     run_spec.strategy = runspec_strategy
-    run_spec.context.parse_test_results = false
+    run_spec.context.is_dap_active = true
   end
 
   logger.debug({ "RunSpec:", run_spec })