diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e6e111d2..43aa0e00 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -850,9 +850,15 @@ def test_backup_action():
     out: ActionOutput = ctx.run_action("do_backup_action", State())
 
     # you can assert action results, logs, failure using the ActionOutput interface
-    assert out.results == {'foo': 'bar'}
     assert out.logs == ['baz', 'qux']
-    assert out.failure == 'boo-hoo'
+    
+    if out.success:
+      # if the action did not fail, we can read the results:
+      assert out.results == {'foo': 'bar'}
+
+    else:
+      # if the action fails, we can read a failure message
+      assert out.failure == 'boo-hoo'
 ```
 
 ## Parametrized Actions
diff --git a/scenario/context.py b/scenario/context.py
index 5450205e..4fa773a9 100644
--- a/scenario/context.py
+++ b/scenario/context.py
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 # Copyright 2023 Canonical Ltd.
 # See LICENSE file for licensing details.
+import dataclasses
 import tempfile
-from collections import namedtuple
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import (
@@ -34,7 +34,25 @@
 
 logger = scenario_logger.getChild("runtime")
 
-ActionOutput = namedtuple("ActionOutput", ("state", "logs", "results", "failure"))
+
+@dataclasses.dataclass
+class ActionOutput:
+    """Wraps the results of running an action event with `run_action`."""
+
+    state: "State"
+    """The charm state after the action has been handled.
+    In most cases, actions are not expected to be affecting it."""
+    logs: List[str]
+    """Any logs associated with the action output, set by the charm."""
+    results: Dict[str, Any]
+    """Key-value mapping assigned by the charm as a result of the action."""
+    failure: Optional[str] = None
+    """If the action is not a success: the message the charm set when failing the action."""
+
+    @property
+    def success(self) -> bool:
+        """Return whether this action was a success."""
+        return self.failure is None
 
 
 class InvalidEventError(RuntimeError):
@@ -254,7 +272,7 @@ def __init__(
         # ephemeral side effects from running an action
         self._action_logs = []
         self._action_results = None
-        self._action_failure = ""
+        self._action_failure = None
 
     def _set_output_state(self, output_state: "State"):
         """Hook for Runtime to set the output state."""
@@ -281,7 +299,7 @@ def clear(self):
         self.requested_storages = {}
         self._action_logs = []
         self._action_results = None
-        self._action_failure = ""
+        self._action_failure = None
         self._output_state = None
 
     def _record_status(self, state: "State", is_app: bool):
@@ -463,7 +481,7 @@ def _finalize_action(self, state_out: "State"):
         # reset all action-related state
         self._action_logs = []
         self._action_results = None
-        self._action_failure = ""
+        self._action_failure = None
 
         return ao
 
diff --git a/tests/test_e2e/test_actions.py b/tests/test_e2e/test_actions.py
index eba28480..18248a17 100644
--- a/tests/test_e2e/test_actions.py
+++ b/tests/test_e2e/test_actions.py
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ def handle_evt(charm: CharmBase, evt: ActionEvent):
     out = ctx.run_action(action, State())
 
     assert out.results == res_value
+    assert out.success is True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("res_value", ({"a": {"b": {"c"}}}, {"d": "e"}))
@@ -128,3 +129,4 @@ def handle_evt(charm: CharmBase, evt: ActionEvent):
 
     assert out.failure == "failed becozz"
     assert out.logs == ["log1", "log2"]
+    assert out.success is False