diff --git a/mantle/kola/harness.go b/mantle/kola/harness.go
index f5b4e97b7b..d976595c7d 100644
--- a/mantle/kola/harness.go
+++ b/mantle/kola/harness.go
@@ -872,13 +872,27 @@ func runProvidedTests(testsBank map[string]*register.Test, patterns []string, mu
 		newOutputDir := filepath.Join(outputDir, "rerun")
 		fmt.Printf("\n\n======== Re-running failed tests (flake detection) ========\n\n")
 		reRunErr := runProvidedTests(testsToRerun, []string{"*"}, multiply, false, rerunSuccessTags, pltfrm, newOutputDir)
-		if reRunErr == nil && allTestsAllowRerunSuccess(testsToRerun, rerunSuccessTags) {
+		// Four possible outcomes from the rerun:
+		// 1. reRunErr == nil && allTestsAllowRerunSuccess == true:
+		//    Tests passed on rerun AND have the required tags to allow rerun success.
+		//    Reset to success (runErr = nil).
+		// 2. reRunErr != nil && allTestsAllowRerunSuccess == false:
+		//    Tests failed on rerun and don't have tags. Use the rerun error (runErr = reRunErr).
+		// 3. reRunErr == nil && allTestsAllowRerunSuccess == false:
+		//    Tests passed on rerun BUT don't have the required tags to allow rerun success.
+		//    Keep the original error (don't modify runErr) - the initial failure stands.
+		// 4. reRunErr != nil && allTestsAllowRerunSuccess == true:
+		//    Tests failed on rerun even though they have allow-rerun-success tags.
+		//    Use the rerun error (runErr = reRunErr) - tags only matter when rerun passes.
+		if reRunErr != nil {
+			// Scenarios 2 & 4: Rerun failed - use the rerun error regardless of tags
+			runErr = reRunErr
+		} else if allTestsAllowRerunSuccess(testsToRerun, rerunSuccessTags) {
+			// Scenario 1: Rerun passed AND tests have tags to allow rerun success
 			runErr = nil       // reset to success since all tests allowed rerun success
 			numFailedTests = 0 // zero out the tally of failed tests
-		} else {
-			runErr = reRunErr
 		}
-
+		// else: Scenario 3 - keep original runErr (test passed on rerun but doesn't allow rerun success)
 	}
 
 	// Return ErrWarnOnTestFail when ONLY tests with warn:true feature failed