diff --git a/backend/library.c b/backend/library.c
index f2d93749..5c258fc1 100644
--- a/backend/library.c
+++ b/backend/library.c
@@ -1282,25 +1282,36 @@ int ZBarcode_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, int rotate_angle) {
 
 int ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char *input, int length, int rotate_angle) {
     int error_number;
+    int first_err;
 
     error_number = ZBarcode_Encode(symbol, input, length);
-    if (error_number != 0) {
+    if (error_number >= 5) {
         return error_number;
     }
 
+    first_err = error_number;
     error_number = ZBarcode_Print(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    if (error_number == 0) {
+        error_number = first_err;
+    }
     return error_number;
 }
 
 int ZBarcode_Encode_and_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, unsigned char *input, int length, int rotate_angle) {
     int error_number;
+    int first_err;
 
     error_number = ZBarcode_Encode(symbol, input, length);
-    if (error_number != 0) {
+    if (error_number >= 5) {
         return error_number;
     }
 
+    first_err = error_number;
     error_number = ZBarcode_Buffer(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    if (error_number == 0) {
+        error_number = first_err;
+    }
+    
     return error_number;
 }
 
@@ -1365,24 +1376,38 @@ int ZBarcode_Encode_File(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename) {
 
 int ZBarcode_Encode_File_and_Print(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename, int rotate_angle) {
     int error_number;
+    int first_err;
 
     error_number = ZBarcode_Encode_File(symbol, filename);
-    if (error_number != 0) {
+    if (error_number >= 5) {
         return error_number;
     }
-
-    return ZBarcode_Print(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    
+    first_err = error_number;
+    error_number = ZBarcode_Print(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    if (error_number == 0) {
+        error_number = first_err;
+    }
+    
+    return error_number;
 }
 
 int ZBarcode_Encode_File_and_Buffer(struct zint_symbol *symbol, char *filename, int rotate_angle) {
     int error_number;
+    int first_err;
 
     error_number = ZBarcode_Encode_File(symbol, filename);
-    if (error_number != 0) {
+    if (error_number >= 5) {
         return error_number;
     }
+    
+    first_err = error_number;
+    error_number = ZBarcode_Buffer(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    if (error_number == 0) {
+        error_number = first_err;
+    }
 
-    return ZBarcode_Buffer(symbol, rotate_angle);
+    return error_number;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/backend_qt/qzint.cpp b/backend_qt/qzint.cpp
index d7222ed3..5a984119 100644
--- a/backend_qt/qzint.cpp
+++ b/backend_qt/qzint.cpp
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ namespace Zint {
         strcpy(m_zintSymbol->fgcolour, fgcol.data());
         strcpy(m_zintSymbol->bgcolour, bgcol.data());
         m_error = ZBarcode_Encode_and_Print(m_zintSymbol, (unsigned char*) bstr.data(), bstr.length(), 0);
-        if (m_error != 0) {
+        if (m_error >= 5) {
             m_lastError = m_zintSymbol->errtxt;
             return false;
         } else {