1 files changed, 10 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/man/lib/util.c b/gnu/usr.bin/man/lib/util.c
index 6db023b7368b4..995d318bc530b 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/man/lib/util.c
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/man/lib/util.c
@@ -139,6 +139,16 @@ do_system_command (command)
   else
     status = system (command);
 
+  /* check return value from system() function first */
+  if (status == -1) {
+    fprintf(stderr, 
+	    "wait() for exit status of shell failed in function system()\n");
+    return 0;
+  } else if (status == 127 || status == (127 << 8)) {
+    fprintf(stderr, "execution of the shell failed in function system()\n");
+    return 0;
+  }
+
   if (WIFSIGNALED(status))
     return -1;
   else if (WEXITSTATUS(status)) {