diff --git a/base/modules/psb_error_impl.F90 b/base/modules/psb_error_impl.F90
index b85c48e9..f4308816 100644
--- a/base/modules/psb_error_impl.F90
+++ b/base/modules/psb_error_impl.F90
@@ -46,11 +46,14 @@ subroutine psb_par_error_handler(ctxt,err_act)
 
   call psb_erractionrestore(err_act)
 
-  if (err_act == psb_act_print_)     &
-       &  call psb_error(ctxt, abrt=.false.)
-  if (err_act == psb_act_abort_)      &
-       &  call psb_error(ctxt, abrt=.true.)
-
+  if (err_act == psb_act_print_)    then 
+    call psb_error(ctxt, abrt=.false.)
+  else if (err_act == psb_act_ret_)     then
+    ! do nothing 
+  else 
+    call psb_error(ctxt, abrt=.true.)
+  end if
+  
   return 
 
 end subroutine psb_par_error_handler
diff --git a/base/modules/psb_error_mod.F90 b/base/modules/psb_error_mod.F90
index fe12fca4..9e44b9e9 100644
--- a/base/modules/psb_error_mod.F90
+++ b/base/modules/psb_error_mod.F90
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ module psb_error_mod
   logical, save             :: comm_global_checks = .false.
 
 contains
+  
   subroutine psb_set_global_checks(val)
     logical, intent(in), optional :: val
 
@@ -182,7 +183,16 @@ contains
 
     val = comm_global_checks
   end function psb_get_global_checks
-    
+
+  subroutine psb_check_error(ctxt,abrt)
+    implicit none 
+    type(psb_ctxt_type), intent(in) :: ctxt
+    logical, optional, intent(in)      :: abrt
+
+    if (psb_errstatus_fatal()) then
+      call psb_error(ctxt,abrt)
+    end if
+  end subroutine psb_check_error
   
   ! saves action to support error traceback
   ! also changes error action to "return"
diff --git a/cbind/base/psb_c_base.h b/cbind/base/psb_c_base.h
index d151428e..69a749ea 100644
--- a/cbind/base/psb_c_base.h
+++ b/cbind/base/psb_c_base.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 
 
+  void  psb_c_check_error(psb_c_ctxt *cctxt);
   psb_i_t psb_c_error();
   psb_i_t psb_c_clean_errstack();
   void psb_c_print_errmsg();
diff --git a/cbind/base/psb_cpenv_mod.f90 b/cbind/base/psb_cpenv_mod.f90
index 30133490..cb1d0a14 100644
--- a/cbind/base/psb_cpenv_mod.f90
+++ b/cbind/base/psb_cpenv_mod.f90
@@ -132,6 +132,24 @@ contains
     return
   end subroutine psb_c_abort
 
+  subroutine psb_c_check_error(cctxt) bind(c)
+    use psb_base_mod, only : psb_init, psb_ctxt_type
+    implicit none
+
+    type(psb_c_object_type)      :: cctxt
+    type(psb_ctxt_type), pointer :: ctxt
+    integer :: info
+
+    if (c_associated(cctxt%item)) then
+      call c_f_pointer(cctxt%item,ctxt)
+      deallocate(ctxt,stat=info)
+      if (info /= 0) return
+    end if
+    allocate(ctxt,stat=info)
+    if (info /= 0) return
+    call psb_check_error(ctxt,abrt=.true.)
+
+  end subroutine psb_c_check_error
 
   subroutine psb_c_info(cctxt,iam,np) bind(c)
     use psb_base_mod, only : psb_info, psb_ctxt_type