diff --git a/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py b/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
index 1d859e8e..079d514c 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
+++ b/elasticsearch/client/__init__.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         return True
 
     @query_params('fields', 'parent', 'preference', 'realtime', 'refresh', 'routing')
-    def get(self, index, id, doc_type='_all', ignore_missing=False, params=None):
+    def get(self, index, id, doc_type='_all', ignore=(), params=None):
         """
         Get a typed JSON document from the index based on its id.
         http://elasticsearch.org/guide/reference/api/get/
@@ -175,7 +175,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         :arg id: The document ID
         :arg doc_type: The type of the document (uses `_all` by default to
             fetch the first document matching the ID across all types)
-        :arg ignore_missing: if True will not raise an exception on 404
+        :arg ignore: a list of http status number that should be ignored
+            instead of raised as exceptions
         :arg fields: A comma-separated list of fields to return in the response
         :arg parent: The ID of the parent document
         :arg preference: Specify the node or shard the operation should be
@@ -189,14 +190,14 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         try:
             _, data = self.transport.perform_request('GET', _make_path(index, doc_type, id),
                 params=params)
-        except NotFoundError:
-            if ignore_missing:
+        except TransportError as e:
+            if e.status_code == ignore:
                 return
             raise
         return data
 
     @query_params('parent', 'preference', 'realtime', 'refresh', 'routing')
-    def get_source(self, index, id, doc_type='_all', ignore_missing=False, params=None):
+    def get_source(self, index, id, doc_type='_all', ignore=(), params=None):
         """
         Get the source of a document by it's index, type and id.
         http://elasticsearch.org/guide/reference/api/get/
@@ -205,7 +206,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         :arg doc_type: The type of the document (uses `_all` by default to
             fetch the first document matching the ID across all types)
         :arg id: The document ID
-        :arg ignore_missing: if True will not raise an exception on 404 and just return `None`
+        :arg ignore: a list of http status number that should be ignored
+            instead of raised as exceptions
         :arg parent: The ID of the parent document
         :arg preference: Specify the node or shard the operation should be
             performed on (default: random)
@@ -217,8 +219,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         try:
             _, data = self.transport.perform_request('GET', _make_path(index, doc_type, id, '_source'),
                 params=params)
-        except NotFoundError:
-            if ignore_missing:
+        except TransportError as e:
+            if e.status_code == ignore:
                 return
             raise
         return data
@@ -249,7 +251,7 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
     @query_params('consistency', 'fields', 'lang', 'parent', 'percolate',
         'refresh', 'replication', 'retry_on_conflict', 'routing', 'script',
         'timeout', 'timestamp', 'ttl', 'version', 'version_type')
-    def update(self, index, doc_type, id, body=None, ignore_missing=False, params=None):
+    def update(self, index, doc_type, id, body=None, ignore=(), params=None):
         """
         Update a document based on a script or partial data provided.
         http://elasticsearch.org/guide/reference/api/update/
@@ -258,8 +260,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         :arg doc_type: The type of the document
         :arg id: Document ID
         :arg body: The request definition using either `script` or partial `doc`
-        :arg ignore_missing: if True will not raise an exception on 404 and
-            just return `None`
+        :arg ignore: a list of http status number that should be ignored
+            instead of raised as exceptions
         :arg consistency: Explicit write consistency setting for the operation
         :arg fields: A comma-separated list of fields to return in the response
         :arg lang: The script language (default: mvel)
@@ -281,8 +283,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         try:
             _, data = self.transport.perform_request('POST', _make_path(index, doc_type, id, '_update'),
                 params=params, body=body)
-        except NotFoundError:
-            if ignore_missing:
+        except TransportError as e:
+            if e.status_code == ignore:
                 return
             raise
         return data
@@ -361,7 +363,7 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
 
     @query_params('consistency', 'parent', 'refresh', 'replication', 'routing',
         'timeout', 'version', 'version_type')
-    def delete(self, index, doc_type, id, ignore_missing=False, params=None):
+    def delete(self, index, doc_type, id, ignore=(), params=None):
         """
         Delete a typed JSON document from a specific index based on its id.
         http://elasticsearch.org/guide/reference/api/delete/
@@ -369,7 +371,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         :arg index: The name of the index
         :arg doc_type: The type of the document
         :arg id: The document ID
-        :arg ignore_missing: if True will not raise an exception on 404
+        :arg ignore: a list of http status number that should be ignored
+            instead of raised as exceptions
         :arg consistency: Specific write consistency setting for the operation
         :arg parent: ID of parent document
         :arg refresh: Refresh the index after performing the operation
@@ -381,8 +384,8 @@ class Elasticsearch(object):
         """
         try:
             _, data = self.transport.perform_request('DELETE', _make_path(index, doc_type, id), params=params)
-        except NotFoundError:
-            if ignore_missing:
+        except TransportError as e:
+            if e.status_code == ignore:
                 return
             raise
         return data