diff --git a/src/lib/commands/arm.c b/src/lib/commands/arm.c
index 4393e4ba..5a9109c5 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/arm.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/arm.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ arm(void)
 	}
 	p = getstarg(player->argp[3], "Airburst [n]? ", buf);
 	if (!p)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 
 	if (!check_plane_ok(&pl) || !check_nuke_ok(&nuke))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/bdes.c b/src/lib/commands/bdes.c
index ce1dd857..8e20b62d 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/bdes.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/bdes.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ bdes(void)
 		xyas(nstr.x, nstr.y, player->cnum),
 		d ? d : ' ');
 	if ((p = getstarg(player->argp[2], prompt, buf)) == 0) {
-	    rc = RET_SYN;
+	    rc = RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
 	}
 	if (!isprint(*p)) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/deli.c b/src/lib/commands/deli.c
index a52e5f0f..4d894636 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/deli.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/deli.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ deli(void)
 			    dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name, ich->i_name);
 		    p = getstarg(player->argp[4], prompt, buf);
 		    if (!p)
-			return RET_SYN;
+			return RET_FAIL;
 		}
 	    }
 	    if (p && *p) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/desi.c b/src/lib/commands/desi.c
index 5ba97923..917cfdf6 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/desi.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/desi.c
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ desi(void)
 		xyas(sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y, player->cnum),
 		sect.sct_effic, dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
 	if ((p = getstarg(player->argp[2], prompt, buf)) == 0) {
-	    rc = RET_SYN;
+	    rc = RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
 	}
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ desi(void)
 	if (des < 0) {
 	    pr("No such designation\n"
 	       "See \"info Sector-types\" for possible designations\n");
-	    rc = RET_SYN;
+	    rc = RET_FAIL;
 	    break;
 	}
 	if (!player->god) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/lten.c b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
index 6e982fdf..32fd31e3 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/lten.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/lten.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ ltend(void)
 	    continue;
 	if ((p =
 	     getstarg(player->argp[3], "Amount to transfer? ", buf)) == 0)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if ((amt = atoi(p)) == 0)
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ ltend(void)
 	}
 	if (!snxtitem(&targets, EF_LAND,
 		      player->argp[4], "Units to be tended? "))
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
 	total = 0;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/mfir.c b/src/lib/commands/mfir.c
index 7ca3a35d..db768ff3 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/mfir.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/mfir.c
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ multifire(void)
 
 	ptr = getstarg(player->argp[3], "Firing at? ", buf);
 	if (!ptr)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!*ptr)
 	    continue;
 	if (!issector(ptr)) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/mine.c b/src/lib/commands/mine.c
index c33a558e..b220895f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/mine.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/mine.c
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ landmine(void)
 	sprintf(prompt, "Drop how many mines from %s? ", prland(&land));
 	mines_wanted = onearg(player->argp[2], prompt);
 	if (mines_wanted < 0)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (mines_wanted == 0)
 	    continue;
 	if (!check_land_ok(&land))
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/mora.c b/src/lib/commands/mora.c
index 79d07d84..23e2cd8e 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/mora.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/mora.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ morale(void)
 		prland(&land), min);
 	p = getstarg(player->argp[2], mess, buf);
 	if (!p)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_land_ok(&land))
 	    continue;
 	if ((i = atoi(p)) < 0)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/orde.c b/src/lib/commands/orde.c
index d4373d05..5aebcf60 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/orde.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/orde.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ orde(void)
 	    if (!orders) {
 		p = getstarg(player->argp[4], "Second dest? ", buf);
 		if (!p)
-		    return RET_SYN;
+		    return RET_FAIL;
 		if (!*p || !strcmp(p, "-")) {
 		    orders = 1;
 		    pr("A one-way order has been accepted.\n");
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/rang.c b/src/lib/commands/rang.c
index 964d4af0..3e1d2c58 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/rang.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/rang.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ range(void)
 	    continue;
 	p = getstarg(player->argp[2], "New range? ", buf);
 	if (!p)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_plane_ok(&plane))
 	    return RET_SYN;
 	if ((i = atoi(p)) < 0)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/sail.c b/src/lib/commands/sail.c
index 19fa6a81..230e06e8 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/sail.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/sail.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ cmd_sail_ship(struct nstr_item *nstr)
 	cp = getpath(navpath, player->argp[2],
 		     ship.shp_x, ship.shp_y, 0, 0, P_SAILING);
 	if (!cp)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&ship))
 	    continue;
 	strncpy(ship.shp_path, cp, sizeof(ship.shp_path) - 2);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/set.c b/src/lib/commands/set.c
index 96a5eb14..567e47c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/set.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/set.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ set(void)
 	sprintf(prompt, "%s #%d; Price? ",
 		trade_nameof(&trade, &item), ni.cur);
 	if ((p = getstarg(player->argp[3], prompt, buf)) == 0)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!trade_check_item_ok(&item))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if ((price = atoi(p)) < 0)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/tend.c b/src/lib/commands/tend.c
index fd02c9ee..6b55f80b 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/tend.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/tend.c
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ tend(void)
 		    prship(&tender));
 	    p = getstarg(player->argp[3], prompt, buf);
 	    if (!p)
-		return RET_SYN;
+		return RET_FAIL;
 	    if (!*p)
 		continue;
 	    if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ tend(void)
 		ip->i_name, prship(&tender));
 	p = getstarg(player->argp[3], prompt, buf);
 	if (!p)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!*p)
 	    continue;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ tend(void)
 	}
 	if (!snxtitem(&targets, EF_SHIP,
 		      player->argp[4], "Ships to be tended? "))
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_ship_ok(&tender))
 	    return RET_SYN;
 	total = 0;
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ tend_land(struct shpstr *tenderp, char *units)
 	}
 	if (!snxtitem(&targets, EF_SHIP,
 		      player->argp[4], "Ship to be tended? "))
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!check_land_ok(&land))
 	    return RET_SYN;
 	while (nxtitem(&targets, &target)) {
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/thre.c b/src/lib/commands/thre.c
index b888aeec..03aed85a 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/thre.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/thre.c
@@ -71,14 +71,14 @@ thre(void)
 		    xyas(nstr.x, nstr.y, player->cnum),
 		    dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
 	if ((p = getstarg(player->argp[3], prompt, buf)) == 0)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (!*p)
 	    continue;
 	if (!check_sect_ok(&sect))
 	    return RET_FAIL;
 	thresh = atoi(p);
 	if (thresh < 0)
-	    return RET_SYN;
+	    return RET_FAIL;
 	if (thresh > ITEM_MAX)
 	    thresh = ITEM_MAX;
 	if ((val > 0) && (val == thresh)) {