diff --git a/plugins/inputs/ping/README.md b/plugins/inputs/ping/README.md
index eadc60ab7..846430a44 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/ping/README.md
+++ b/plugins/inputs/ping/README.md
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ urls = ["www.google.com"] # required
 - result_code
     - 0: success
     - 1: no such host
+    - 2: ping error
 
 ### Tags:
 
diff --git a/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go b/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
index 7ddbf275e..46afb206a 100644
--- a/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
+++ b/plugins/inputs/ping/ping.go
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ func (p *Ping) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 					} else {
 						acc.AddError(fmt.Errorf("host %s: %s", u, err))
 					}
+					fields["result_code"] = 2
 					acc.AddFields("ping", fields, tags)
 					return
 				}
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ func (p *Ping) Gather(acc telegraf.Accumulator) error {
 			if err != nil {
 				// fatal error
 				acc.AddError(fmt.Errorf("%s: %s", err, u))
+				fields["result_code"] = 2
 				acc.AddFields("ping", fields, tags)
 				return
 			}