diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 2e256c8910..d58d518985 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -635,6 +635,30 @@ before(function() {
 });
 ```
 
+This will skip all `it`, `beforeEach/afterEach`, and `describe` blocks within the suite. `before/after` hooks are skipped unless they are defined at the same level as the hook containing `this.skip()`.
+
+```js
+describe('outer', function () {
+  before(function () {
+    this.skip();
+  });
+
+  after(function () {
+    // will be executed
+  });
+
+  describe('inner', function () {
+    before(function () {
+      // will be skipped
+    });
+
+    after(function () {
+      // will be skipped
+    });
+  });
+});
+```
+
 > Before Mocha v3.0.0, `this.skip()` was not supported in asynchronous tests and hooks.
 
 ## Retry Tests
diff --git a/lib/runner.js b/lib/runner.js
index 8e1bdf3958..572e0be234 100644
--- a/lib/runner.js
+++ b/lib/runner.js
@@ -319,6 +319,9 @@ Runner.prototype.hook = function(name, fn) {
             suite.tests.forEach(function(test) {
               test.pending = true;
             });
+            suite.suites.forEach(function(suite) {
+              suite.pending = true;
+            });
             // a pending hook won't be executed twice.
             hook.pending = true;
           }
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-hooks.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-hooks.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..113fef5f8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-hooks.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('outer suite', function () {
+
+  before(function () {
+    console.log('outer before');
+  });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () { });
+
+  describe('inner suite', function () {
+
+    before(function (done) {
+      console.log('inner before');
+      var self = this;
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        self.skip();
+        done();
+      }, 0);
+    });
+
+    beforeEach(function () {
+      throw new Error('beforeEach should not run');
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+      throw new Error('afterEach should not run');
+    });
+
+    it('should not run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('inner suite test should not run');
+    });
+
+    after(function () {
+      console.log('inner after');
+    });
+
+    describe('skipped suite', function () {
+      before(function () {
+        console.log('skipped before');
+      });
+
+      it('should not run this test', function () {
+        throw new Error('skipped suite test should not run');
+      });
+
+      after(function () {
+        console.log('skipped after');
+      });
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () { });
+
+  after(function () {
+    console.log('outer after');
+  });
+
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-nested.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-nested.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8bab69c369
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before-nested.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+describe('skip in before with nested describes', function () {
+  before(function (done) {
+    var self = this;
+    setTimeout(function () {
+      self.skip();
+      done();
+    }, 0);
+  });
+
+  it('should never run this test', function () {
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
+  });
+
+  describe('nested describe', function () {
+    before(function () {
+      throw new Error('first level before should not run');
+    });
+
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
+
+    after(function () {
+      throw new Error('first level after should not run');
+    });
+
+    describe('nested again', function () {
+      before(function () {
+        throw new Error('second level before should not run');
+      });
+
+      it('should never run this test', function () {
+        throw new Error('never run this test');
+      });
+
+      after(function () {
+        throw new Error('second level after should not run');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before.fixture.js
index efeaa93899..5e47bf7bd9 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-before.fixture.js
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 'use strict';
 
-describe('skip in before', function () {
-  before(function (done) {
-    var self = this;
-    setTimeout(function () {
-      self.skip();
-    }, 50);
-  });
+describe('outer describe', function () {
+  it('should run this test', function () {});
 
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
-  });
+  describe('skip in before', function () {
+    before(function (done) {
+      var self = this;
+      setTimeout(function () {
+        self.skip();
+      }, 0);
+    });
 
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
   });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () {});
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-beforeEach.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-beforeEach.fixture.js
index d6225564ba..a4f4d24324 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-beforeEach.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-beforeEach.fixture.js
@@ -5,14 +5,17 @@ describe('skip in beforeEach', function () {
     var self = this;
     setTimeout(function () {
       self.skip();
-    }, 50);
+      done();
+    }, 0);
   });
 
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+  it('should skip this test', function () {
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
   });
-
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+  it('should not reach this test', function () {
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
+  });
+  it('should not reach this test', function () {
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-spec.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-spec.fixture.js
index 44707b026c..00af28eadb 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-spec.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-async-spec.fixture.js
@@ -5,10 +5,8 @@ describe('skip in test', function () {
     var self = this;
     setTimeout(function () {
       self.skip();
-    }, 50);
+    }, 0);
   });
 
-  it('should run other tests in the suite', function () {
-    // Do nothing
-  });
+  it('should run other tests in the suite', function () {});
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-hooks.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-hooks.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1649656202
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-hooks.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('outer suite', function () {
+
+  before(function () {
+    console.log('outer before');
+  });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () { });
+
+  describe('inner suite', function () {
+    before(function () {
+      this.skip();
+    });
+
+    before(function () {
+      console.log('inner before');
+    });
+
+    beforeEach(function () {
+      throw new Error('beforeEach should not run');
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function () {
+      throw new Error('afterEach should not run');
+    });
+
+    after(function () {
+      console.log('inner after');
+    });
+
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('inner suite test should not run');
+    });
+
+    describe('skipped suite', function () {
+      before(function () {
+        console.log('skipped before');
+      });
+
+      it('should never run this test', function () {
+        throw new Error('skipped suite test should not run');
+      });
+
+      after(function () {
+        console.log('skipped after');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () { });
+
+  after(function () {
+    console.log('outer after');
+  })
+
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-nested.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-nested.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..06f774503d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before-nested.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe('skip in before with nested describes', function () {
+  before(function () {
+    this.skip();
+  });
+
+  it('should never run this test', function () {
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
+  });
+
+  describe('nested describe', function () {
+    before(function () {
+      throw new Error('first level before should not run');
+    });
+
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
+
+    after(function () {
+      throw new Error('first level after should not run');
+    });
+
+    describe('nested again', function () {
+      before(function () {
+        throw new Error('second level before should not run');
+      });
+
+      it('should never run this test', function () {
+        throw new Error('never run this test');
+      });
+
+      after(function () {
+        throw new Error('second level after should not run');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before.fixture.js
index 5e3b208efa..5a5332f388 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-before.fixture.js
@@ -1,15 +1,20 @@
 'use strict';
 
-describe('skip in before', function () {
-  before(function () {
-    this.skip();
-  });
+describe('outer describe', function () {
+  it('should run this test', function () {});
 
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
-  });
+  describe('skip in before', function () {
+    before(function () {
+      this.skip();
+    });
 
-  it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
+    it('should never run this test', function () {
+      throw new Error('never run this test');
+    });
   });
+
+  it('should run this test', function () {});
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-beforeEach.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-beforeEach.fixture.js
index 0bd155ba55..2312265613 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-beforeEach.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-beforeEach.fixture.js
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ describe('skip in beforeEach', function () {
   });
 
   it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
   });
 
   it('should never run this test', function () {
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
   });
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-spec.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-spec.fixture.js
index 1d22f0b77d..9178fce033 100644
--- a/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-spec.fixture.js
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/pending/skip-sync-spec.fixture.js
@@ -3,10 +3,8 @@
 describe('skip in test', function () {
   it('should skip immediately', function () {
     this.skip();
-    throw new Error('never thrown');
+    throw new Error('never run this test');
   });
 
-  it('should run other tests in the suite', function () {
-    // Do nothing
-  });
+  it('should run other tests in the suite', function () {});
 });
diff --git a/test/integration/pending.spec.js b/test/integration/pending.spec.js
index 27601b7a0e..82fd75a76a 100644
--- a/test/integration/pending.spec.js
+++ b/test/integration/pending.spec.js
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 var assert = require('assert');
 var run = require('./helpers').runMochaJSON;
+var runMocha = require('./helpers').runMocha;
+var splitRegExp = require('./helpers').splitRegExp;
 var args = [];
 
 describe('pending', function() {
@@ -74,6 +76,64 @@ describe('pending', function() {
             return;
           }
           assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 2);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.passes, 2);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 0);
+          assert.equal(res.code, 0);
+          done();
+        });
+      });
+      it('should run before and after hooks', function(done) {
+        runMocha(
+          'pending/skip-sync-before-hooks.fixture.js',
+          args.concat(['--reporter', 'dot']),
+          function(err, res) {
+            if (err) {
+              done(err);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            var lines = res.output
+              .split(splitRegExp)
+              .map(function(line) {
+                return line.trim();
+              })
+              .filter(function(line) {
+                return line.length;
+              })
+              .slice(0, -1);
+
+            var expected = [
+              'outer before',
+              'inner before',
+              'inner after',
+              'outer after'
+            ];
+
+            assert.equal(res.pending, 2);
+            assert.equal(res.passing, 2);
+            assert.equal(res.failing, 0);
+            assert.equal(res.code, 0);
+            expected.forEach(function(line, i) {
+              assert.equal(true, lines[i].includes(line));
+            });
+
+            done();
+          }
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('in before with nested describe', function() {
+      it('should skip all suite specs, even if nested', function(done) {
+        run('pending/skip-sync-before-nested.fixture.js', args, function(
+          err,
+          res
+        ) {
+          if (err) {
+            done(err);
+            return;
+          }
+          assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 3);
           assert.equal(res.stats.passes, 0);
           assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 0);
           assert.equal(res.code, 0);
@@ -127,6 +187,64 @@ describe('pending', function() {
             return;
           }
           assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 2);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.passes, 2);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 0);
+          assert.equal(res.code, 0);
+          done();
+        });
+      });
+      it('should run before and after hooks', function(done) {
+        runMocha(
+          'pending/skip-async-before-hooks.fixture.js',
+          args.concat(['--reporter', 'dot']),
+          function(err, res) {
+            if (err) {
+              done(err);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            var lines = res.output
+              .split(splitRegExp)
+              .map(function(line) {
+                return line.trim();
+              })
+              .filter(function(line) {
+                return line.length;
+              })
+              .slice(0, -1);
+
+            var expected = [
+              'outer before',
+              'inner before',
+              'inner after',
+              'outer after'
+            ];
+
+            assert.equal(res.pending, 2);
+            assert.equal(res.passing, 2);
+            assert.equal(res.failing, 0);
+            assert.equal(res.code, 0);
+            expected.forEach(function(line, i) {
+              assert.equal(true, lines[i].includes(line));
+            });
+
+            done();
+          }
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('in before with nested describe', function() {
+      it('should skip all suite specs, even if nested', function(done) {
+        run('pending/skip-async-before-nested.fixture.js', args, function(
+          err,
+          res
+        ) {
+          if (err) {
+            done(err);
+            return;
+          }
+          assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 3);
           assert.equal(res.stats.passes, 0);
           assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 0);
           assert.equal(res.code, 0);
@@ -137,7 +255,7 @@ describe('pending', function() {
 
     describe('in beforeEach', function() {
       it('should skip all suite specs', function(done) {
-        run('pending/skip-sync-beforeEach.fixture.js', args, function(
+        run('pending/skip-async-beforeEach.fixture.js', args, function(
           err,
           res
         ) {
@@ -145,10 +263,10 @@ describe('pending', function() {
             done(err);
             return;
           }
-          assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 2);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.pending, 1);
           assert.equal(res.stats.passes, 0);
-          assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 0);
-          assert.equal(res.code, 0);
+          assert.equal(res.stats.failures, 1);
+          assert.equal(res.code, 1);
           done();
         });
       });