diff --git a/src/lib/common/xundump.c b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
index 74a274ca..4f1ad999 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/xundump.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
@@ -996,9 +996,10 @@ xubody(FILE *fp)
 	maxid = ep->fids;
     if (maxid < ep->fids) {
 	if (EF_IS_GAME_STATE(cur_type)
-	    || (cur_type >= EF_SHIP_CHR && cur_type <= EF_NUKE_CHR))
-	    ef_truncate(cur_type, maxid);
-	else
+	    || (cur_type >= EF_SHIP_CHR && cur_type <= EF_NUKE_CHR)) {
+	    if (!ef_truncate(cur_type, maxid))
+		return -1;
+	} else
 	    return gripe("Table %s requires %d rows, got %d",
 			 ef_nameof(cur_type), ep->fids, maxid);
     }