diff --git a/Parser.cc b/Parser.cc
index 1e1b066..db5b9e4 100644
--- a/Parser.cc
+++ b/Parser.cc
@@ -30,10 +30,14 @@ static void writeDefine(ostream & out,
     out << "#define " << defname << " " << definition << endl;
 }
 
-void Parser::write(const string & fname)
+bool Parser::write(const string & fname)
 {
+    if (m_tokens.size() < 1 || m_rules.size() < 1)
+        return false;
+
     string header_fname = fname + ".h";
     string body_fname = fname + "." + m_extension;
+
     ofstream header(header_fname.c_str());
     ofstream body(body_fname.c_str());
 
@@ -53,6 +57,7 @@ void Parser::write(const string & fname)
 
     header.close();
     body.close();
+    return true;
 }
 
 bool Parser::parseInputFile(char * buff, int size)
diff --git a/Parser.h b/Parser.h
index 76e605f..10360a4 100644
--- a/Parser.h
+++ b/Parser.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Parser
         {
             m_rules.push_back(rd);
         }
-        void write(const std::string & fname);
+        bool write(const std::string & fname);
         bool parseInputFile(char * buff, int size);
 
         void setClassName(const std::string & cn) { m_classname = cn; }
diff --git a/imbecile.cc b/imbecile.cc
index cb5178b..4c73587 100644
--- a/imbecile.cc
+++ b/imbecile.cc
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
     if (optind >= argc)
     {
         cerr << "Usage: imbecile [options] <input-file>" << endl;
-        return 2;
+        return 1;
     }
 
     string input_fname = argv[optind];
@@ -70,8 +70,16 @@ int main(int argc, char * argv[])
     if (outfile == "")
         outfile = buildOutputFilename(input_fname);
 
-    p.parseInputFile(buff, size);
-    p.write(outfile);
+    if (!p.parseInputFile(buff, size))
+    {
+        cerr << "Error parsing " << input_fname << endl;
+        return 3;
+    }
+    if (!p.write(outfile))
+    {
+        cerr << "Error processing " << input_fname << endl;
+        return 4;
+    }
 
     delete[] buff;
     return 0;