diff --git a/util/cpp/LLmessage.c b/util/cpp/LLmessage.c
index 78d595644..24af88338 100644
--- a/util/cpp/LLmessage.c
+++ b/util/cpp/LLmessage.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 extern char *symbol2str();
 
 LLmessage(tk)	{
-	err_occurred = 1;
 	if (tk < 0)
 		error("garbage at end of line");
 	else if (tk)	{
diff --git a/util/cpp/error.c b/util/cpp/error.c
index 9dd1922f3..4662b53cb 100644
--- a/util/cpp/error.c
+++ b/util/cpp/error.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ error(va_alist)
 	va_list ap;
 
 	err_hdr("");
+	err_occurred = 1;
 	va_start(ap);
 	fmt = va_arg(ap, char *);
 	doprnt(ERROUT, fmt, ap);