diff --git a/src/bup.c b/src/bup.c
index c623d77..00ed278 100644
--- a/src/bup.c
+++ b/src/bup.c
@@ -252,7 +252,9 @@ int b_update(char *fname)
    mergepinklists();
    /* trigger synchronous external update - if available */
    if (Ininit == 0 && fexists("../update-external.sh")) {
-      system("../update-external.sh");
+      if (system("../update-external.sh") != 0) {
+         pwarn("../update-external.sh returned error");
+      }
    }
 
 CLEANUP:
diff --git a/src/sync.c b/src/sync.c
index fa0dde4..ca4cf06 100644
--- a/src/sync.c
+++ b/src/sync.c
@@ -324,7 +324,9 @@ int resync(word32 quorum[], word32 *qidx, void *highweight, void *highbnum)
    /* Shell script in /bin directory */
    if(Exportflag && fexists("../init-external.sh")) {
      plog("Calling ../init-external.sh\n");  /* first time call */
-     system("../init-external.sh");
+     if (system("../init-external.sh") != 0) {
+        pwarn("../init-external.sh returned error");
+     }
    }
 
    if(!Running) resign("quorum update");