diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso.c b/xorriso/xorriso.c
index 418422f3..fb6b2c07 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso.c
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso.c
@@ -4404,7 +4404,7 @@ int Xorriso_compare_2_files(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *disk_adr,
    a[0]= 0;
 
  ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, iso_adr, &s2, 0);
- if(ret==-1) {
+ if(ret<0) {
    sprintf(respt, "? %s  (ISO) : cannot find this file in ISO image\n",
            Text_shellsafe(iso_adr, sfe, 0));
    if(!(flag&(1<<31)))
@@ -4526,7 +4526,7 @@ int Xorriso_compare_2_files(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *disk_adr,
          {ret= -1; goto ex;}
        }
        ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, part_path, &stbuf, 0);
-       if(ret==-1)
+       if(ret<0)
      continue;
        ret= Xorriso_compare_2_contents(xorriso, a, disk_adr, s1.st_size,
                                        offset, bytes,
@@ -6219,7 +6219,7 @@ int Xorriso_findx_action(struct XorrisO *xorriso, struct FindjoB *job,
  }
  if(action==15) { /* in_iso */
    ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, iso_path, &stbuf, 0);
-   if(ret==-1)
+   if(ret<0)
      {ret= 1; goto ex;}
    sprintf(xorriso->result_line, "%s\n", Text_shellsafe(show_path, sfe, 0));
    Xorriso_result(xorriso, 0);
@@ -6246,7 +6246,7 @@ int Xorriso_findx_action(struct XorrisO *xorriso, struct FindjoB *job,
      ret= 1;
  } else if(action==19) { /* empty_iso_dir */
    ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, iso_path, &stbuf, 0);
-   if(ret==-1)
+   if(ret<0)
      {ret= 1; goto ex;}
    if(!S_ISDIR(stbuf.st_mode))
      {ret= 1; goto ex;}
@@ -6258,7 +6258,7 @@ int Xorriso_findx_action(struct XorrisO *xorriso, struct FindjoB *job,
    }
  } else if(action==20) { /* is_full_in_iso */
    ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, iso_path, &stbuf, 0);
-   if(ret==-1)
+   if(ret<0)
      {ret= 1; goto ex;}
    if(!S_ISDIR(stbuf.st_mode))
      {ret= 1; goto ex;}
@@ -9375,7 +9375,7 @@ int Xorriso_option_lsi(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int argc, char **argv,
  if((flag&2) && nump>0 ) {
    ;
  } else if(nump <= 0) {
-   if(Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, xorriso->wdi, &stbuf, 0)==-1) {
+   if(Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, xorriso->wdi, &stbuf, 0)<0) {
      sprintf(xorriso->info_text,
              "Current -cd path does not yet exist in the ISO image");
      Xorriso_msgs_submit(xorriso, 0, xorriso->info_text, 0, "SORRY", 0);
@@ -10626,13 +10626,16 @@ int Xorriso_option_update(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *disk_path,
  if(flag&8) {
    xorriso->find_compare_result= 1;
    ret= Xorriso_iso_lstat(xorriso, ipth, &stbuf, 0);
-   if(ret != -1) {
+   if(ret >= 0) {
      argv[0]= ipth;
      argv[1]= "-exec";
      argv[2]= "update";
      argv[3]= disk_path;
      zero= 0;
      ret= Xorriso_option_find(xorriso, 4, argv, &zero, 2); /* -findi */
+   } else if(ret==-2) { /* severe error (e.g. lack of image) */
+     ret= -1;
+     goto report_outcome;
    } else {
      not_in_iso= 1;
      ret= 1;
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
index 0846fef8..849f2379 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#define Xorriso_timestamP "2008.05.09.205517"
+#define Xorriso_timestamP "2008.05.10.194336"
diff --git a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
index ba3dc981..dfc86833 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
+++ b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.c
@@ -3462,6 +3462,8 @@ int Xorriso_iso_lstat(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *path, struct stat *stbuf,
  ret= Xorriso_fake_stbuf(xorriso, path, stbuf, &node, 0);
  if(ret>0)
    return(0);
+ if(ret<0)
+   return(-2);
  return(-1);
 }
 
diff --git a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.h b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.h
index 301cb103..b6efe17c 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorrisoburn.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorrisoburn.h
@@ -158,7 +158,9 @@ int Xorriso_set_abort_severity(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag);
 
 int Xorriso_report_lib_versions(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag);
 
-/* @return 0= stbuf content is valid , -1 = path not found */
+/* @return 0= stbuf content is valid ,
+          -1 = path not found , -2 = severe error occured
+*/
 int Xorriso_iso_lstat(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *path, struct stat *stbuf,
                       int flag);