diff --git a/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target b/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target
index f8cafd83..07df6173 100755
--- a/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target
+++ b/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target
@@ -670,7 +670,14 @@ write_image() {
   else
     echo "Performing:"
     echo "  $sudo_cmd $dd_cmd if='${1}' bs=1M of=/dev/'${2}' ; sync"
-    $sudo_cmd "$dd_cmd" if="${1}" bs=1M of=/dev/"${2}" ; sync
+    $sudo_cmd "$dd_cmd" if="${1}" bs=1M of=/dev/"${2}"
+    ret="$?"
+    sync
+    if test "$ret" -ne 0
+    then
+      echo "FAILURE: $sudo_cmd $dd_cmd was not successful" >&2
+      return 18
+    fi
   fi
 
   # >>> ??? Erase possible GPT backup table at end of device ?
diff --git a/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target.xdt b/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target.xdt
index 79f0bccb..df7c1f99 100755
--- a/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target.xdt
+++ b/xorriso-dd-target/xorriso-dd-target.xdt
@@ -706,7 +706,14 @@ xdt_write_image() {
   else
     echo "Performing:"
     echo "  $xdt_sudo_cmd $xdt_dd_cmd if='${1}' bs=1M of=/dev/'${2}' ; sync"
-    $xdt_sudo_cmd "$xdt_dd_cmd" if="${1}" bs=1M of=/dev/"${2}" ; sync
+    $xdt_sudo_cmd "$xdt_dd_cmd" if="${1}" bs=1M of=/dev/"${2}"
+    xdt_ret="$?"
+    sync
+    if test "$xdt_ret" -ne 0
+    then
+      echo "FAILURE: $xdt_sudo_cmd $xdt_dd_cmd was not successful" >&2
+      return 18
+    fi
   fi
 
   # >>> ??? Erase possible GPT backup table at end of device ?