diff --git a/cpp_linter_hooks/clang_format.py b/cpp_linter_hooks/clang_format.py
index 7378524..ab74086 100644
--- a/cpp_linter_hooks/clang_format.py
+++ b/cpp_linter_hooks/clang_format.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ def run_clang_format(args=None) -> Tuple[int, str]:
 
     command.extend(other_args)
 
+    # Auto-inject --Werror when --dry-run is used, so clang-format returns
+    # non-zero when formatting changes are needed (mirrors-clang-format behavior).
+    if "--dry-run" in command and "--Werror" not in command:
+        command.append("--Werror")
+
     try:
         # Run the clang-format command with captured output
         sp = subprocess.run(
@@ -43,11 +48,7 @@ def run_clang_format(args=None) -> Tuple[int, str]:
         # Combine stdout and stderr for complete output
         output = (sp.stdout or "") + (sp.stderr or "")
 
-        # Handle special case for dry-run mode
-        if "--dry-run" in command:
-            retval = -1  # Special code to identify dry-run mode
-        else:
-            retval = sp.returncode
+        retval = sp.returncode
 
         # Print verbose information if requested
         if hook_args.verbose:
@@ -71,12 +72,10 @@ def main() -> int:
     """Run clang-format as a command-line entry point."""
     retval, output = run_clang_format()  # pragma: no cover
 
-    # Print output for errors, but not for dry-run mode
-    if retval != 0 and retval != -1 and output.strip():  # pragma: no cover
+    if retval != 0 and output.strip():  # pragma: no cover
         print(output)
 
-    # Convert dry-run special code to success
-    return 0 if retval == -1 else retval  # pragma: no cover
+    return retval  # pragma: no cover
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/tests/test_clang_format.py b/tests/test_clang_format.py
index 9eb8901..215f60b 100644
--- a/tests/test_clang_format.py
+++ b/tests/test_clang_format.py
@@ -54,22 +54,23 @@ def test_run_clang_format_invalid(args, expected_retval, tmp_path):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.benchmark
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    ("args", "expected_retval"),
-    (
-        (
-            [
-                "--style=Google",
-            ],
-            1,
-        ),
-    ),
-)
-def test_run_clang_format_dry_run(args, expected_retval, tmp_path):
-    # copy test file to tmp_path to prevent modifying repo data
+def test_run_clang_format_dry_run_unformatted(tmp_path):
+    """Dry-run detects unformatted files and returns non-zero."""
     test_file = tmp_path / "main.c"
-    ret, _ = run_clang_format(["--dry-run", str(test_file)])
-    assert ret == -1  # Dry run should not fail
+    test_file.write_bytes(Path("testing/main.c").read_bytes())
+    ret, output = run_clang_format(["--dry-run", "--style=Google", str(test_file)])
+    assert ret == 1  # Should report failure (unformatted)
+    assert output.strip()  # Should report which file needs formatting
+
+
+@pytest.mark.benchmark
+def test_run_clang_format_dry_run_formatted(tmp_path):
+    """Dry-run on already-formatted files returns success."""
+    test_file = tmp_path / "good.c"
+    test_file.write_bytes(Path("testing/good.c").read_bytes())
+    ret, output = run_clang_format(["--dry-run", "--style=Google", str(test_file)])
+    assert ret == 0  # Already formatted
+    assert not output.strip()  # No diff output
 
 
 @pytest.mark.benchmark