diff --git a/include/misc.h b/include/misc.h
index 224e6c2a..1cc47d06 100644
--- a/include/misc.h
+++ b/include/misc.h
@@ -91,7 +91,6 @@ void exit_nomem(void) ATTRIBUTE((noreturn));
 #define	RET_OK		0	/* command completed sucessfully */
 #define	RET_FAIL	1	/* command completed unsucessfully [?] */
 #define	RET_SYN		2	/* syntax error in command */
-#define	RET_SYS		3	/* system error (missing file, etc) */
 
 extern char *getstarg(char *input, char *prompt, char buf[]);
 extern char *getstring(char *prompt, char buf[]);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/cons.c b/src/lib/commands/cons.c
index 7db4a7ce..00cdb1f0 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/cons.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/cons.c
@@ -196,8 +196,9 @@ loan_accept(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
 	return RET_OK;
     }
     if (!getloan(ltcp->num, lp)) {
-	pr("loan_accept: can't read loan; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	logerror("loan_accept: can't read loan");
+	pr("can't read loan; get help!\n");
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     if (lp->l_status == LS_FREE) {	/* other guy retratcted already */
 	late(ltcp);
@@ -250,8 +251,9 @@ loan_decline(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
 
     lp = &ltcp->u.l;
     if (!getloan(ltcp->num, lp)) {
-	pr("Decline: can't read loan; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	logerror("loan_decline: can't read loan");
+	pr("can't read loan; get help!\n");
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     /* loan got accepted somehow between now and last time we checked */
     if (lp->l_status == LS_SIGNED) {
@@ -260,8 +262,9 @@ loan_decline(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
     }
     lp->l_status = LS_FREE;
     if (!putloan(ltcp->num, lp)) {
-	pr("loan_decline: can't write loan; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	logerror("loan_decline: can't write loan");
+	pr("can't write loan; get help!\n");
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     decline(ltcp);
     return RET_OK;
@@ -281,8 +284,9 @@ treaty_accept(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
 	return RET_OK;
     }
     if (!gettre(ltcp->num, tp)) {
-	pr("Accept: can't read treaty; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	pr("treaty_accept: can't read treaty");
+	pr("can't read treaty; get help!\n");
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     if (tp->trt_status == TS_FREE) {	/* treaty offer withdrawn */
 	late(ltcp);
@@ -294,8 +298,9 @@ treaty_accept(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
     }
     tp->trt_status = TS_SIGNED;
     if (!puttre(ltcp->num, tp)) {
+	pr("treaty_accept: can't write treaty");
 	pr("Problem saving treaty; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     accpt(ltcp);
     pr("Treaty in effect until %s", ctime(&tp->trt_exp));
@@ -312,8 +317,9 @@ treaty_decline(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
 
     tp = &ltcp->u.t;
     if (!gettre(ltcp->num, tp)) {
-	pr("Decline: can't read treaty; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	logerror("treaty_decline: can't read treaty");
+	pr("can't read treaty; get help!\n");
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     /* treaty got signed somehow between now and last time we read it */
     if (tp->trt_status == TS_SIGNED) {
@@ -322,8 +328,9 @@ treaty_decline(struct ltcomstr *ltcp)
     }
     tp->trt_status = TS_FREE;
     if (!puttre(ltcp->num, tp)) {
+	logerror("treaty_decline: can't write treaty");
 	pr("Problem saving treaty; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     decline(ltcp);
     return RET_OK;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/info.c b/src/lib/commands/info.c
index d12ba196..61a0b9bc 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/info.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/info.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ info(void)
 	if (info_dp == 0) {
 	    pr("Can't open info dir\n");
 	    logerror("Can't open info dir \"%s\"\n", infodir);
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
 
 	while ((dp = readdir(info_dp)) != 0) {
@@ -146,13 +146,13 @@ info(void)
 	logerror("Cannot fstat for \"%s\" info file (%s)",
 		 filename, strerror(errno));
 	fclose(fp);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     if ((statb.st_mode & S_IFREG) == 0) {
 	pr("Error reading info file for %s\n", name);
 	logerror("The info file \"%s\" is not regular file\n", filename);
 	fclose(fp);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     pr("Information on:  %s    Last modification date: %s",
        name, ctime(&statb.st_mtime));
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ apro(void)
     if (info_dp == NULL) {
 	pr("Can't open info dir \n");
 	logerror("Can't open info dir \"%s\"", infodir);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
 
     fbuf = malloc(256);
@@ -315,7 +315,6 @@ info(void)
 	    switch (GetLastError()) {
 	    case ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND:
 		pr("Sorry, there is no info on %s\n", name);
-		return RET_FAIL;
 		break;
 	    case ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND:
 		pr("Can't open info dir\n");
@@ -326,7 +325,7 @@ info(void)
 		logerror("Error (%lu) reading info dir(%s)\\file(%s)",
 		    GetLastError(), infodir, filename);
 	    }
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
 	do {
 	    if ((fData.dwFileAttributes != (DWORD)-1) &&
@@ -381,7 +380,7 @@ info(void)
 	    logerror("The info file \"%s\" is not regular file\n",
 		     filename);
 	    fclose(fp);
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
     }
 
@@ -429,7 +428,7 @@ apro(void)
 	    logerror("Error (%lu) reading info dir(%s)\\file(%s)",
 		GetLastError(), infodir, filename);
 	}
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
 
     fbuf = malloc(256);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/offe.c b/src/lib/commands/offe.c
index e73b0ba7..685e7052 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/offe.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/offe.c
@@ -142,8 +142,9 @@ do_treaty(void)
     trty.trt_cnb = recipient;
     trty.trt_exp = j * SECS_PER_DAY + now;
     if (!puttre(nstr.cur, &trty)) {
+	logerror("do_treaty: can't write treaty");
 	pr("Couldn't save treaty; get help.\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     wu(0, recipient, "Treaty #%d proposed to you by %s\n",
        nstr.cur, cname(player->cnum));
@@ -230,8 +231,9 @@ do_loan(void)
     (void)time(&loan.l_lastpay);
     loan.l_duedate = loan.l_ldur * SECS_PER_DAY + loan.l_lastpay;
     if (!putloan(nstr.cur, &loan)) {
+	logerror("do_loan: can't save loan");
 	pr("Couldn't save loan; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     pr("You have offered loan %d\n", nstr.cur);
     wu(0, recipient, "Country #%d has offered you a loan (#%d)\n",
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/relo.c b/src/lib/commands/relo.c
index 95f87a62..6fc32038 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/relo.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/relo.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ relo(void)
 
     if (journal_reopen() < 0) {
 	pr("Can't reopen journal");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     pr("Journal reopened.\n");
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ relo(void)
 
     if (logreopen() < 0) {
 	pr("Can't reopen log");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     pr("Log reopened.\n");
 
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/repa.c b/src/lib/commands/repa.c
index 300bfcf8..c1b4b077 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/repa.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/repa.c
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ repa(void)
 	loan.l_amtpaid += payment;
     }
     if (!putloan(loan_num, &loan)) {
+	logerror("repa: can't write loan");
 	pr("Can't save loan; get help!\n");
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     return RET_OK;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/trad.c b/src/lib/commands/trad.c
index 9ff753c9..dc3037b9 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/trad.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/trad.c
@@ -134,8 +134,9 @@ trad(void)
 	pr("Can't find trade #%d!\n", trade.trd_unitid);
 	trade.trd_unitid = -1;
 	if (!puttrade(lotno, &trade)) {
+	    logerror("trad: can't write trade");
 	    pr("Couldn't save after getitem failed; get help!\n");
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
 	return RET_OK;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/turn.c b/src/lib/commands/turn.c
index 3cc102e1..78187913 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/turn.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/turn.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ turn(void)
 	if ((unlink(downfil) == -1) && (errno != ENOENT)) {
 	    pr("Could not remove no-login file, logins still disabled.\n");
 	    logerror("Could not remove no-login file (%s).\n", downfil);
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
 	return RET_OK;
     } else {
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ turn(void)
 		pr("Could not remove motd.\n");
 		logerror("Could not remove motd file (%s).\n",
 			 msgfilepath);
-		return RET_SYS;
+		return RET_FAIL;
 	    }
 	    return RET_OK;
 	} else
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ turn(void)
     if (fptr == NULL) {
 	pr("Something went wrong opening the message file.\n");
 	logerror("Could not open message file (%s).\n", msgfilepath);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
 
     if (msgfilepath == downfil)
@@ -112,13 +112,13 @@ turn(void)
 	pr("Something went wrong writing the message file.\n");
 	logerror("Could not properly write message file (%s).\n",
 	    msgfilepath);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
     if (fclose(fptr)) {
     	pr("Something went wrong closing the message.\n");
 	logerror("Could not properly close message file (%s).\n",
 	    msgfilepath);
-	return RET_SYS;
+	return RET_FAIL;
     }
 
     pr("\n");
diff --git a/src/lib/player/dispatch.c b/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
index 10d16c17..e91a5020 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/dispatch.c
@@ -113,9 +113,6 @@ dispatch(char *buf, char *redir)
     case RET_SYN:
 	pr("Usage: %s\n", command->c_form);
 	break;
-    case RET_SYS:
-	logerror("System error, command failed: %s", command->c_form);
-	break;
     default:
 	CANT_REACH();
 	break;
diff --git a/src/lib/player/player.c b/src/lib/player/player.c
index e7c337d7..b4b93671 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/player.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/player.c
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ show_motd(void)
 	else {
 	    pr ("Could not open motd.\n");
 	    logerror("Could not open motd (%s).\n", motdfil);
-	    return RET_SYS;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	}
     }
     if (fread(&tgm, sizeof(tgm), 1, motd_fp) != 1) {