diff --git a/sarracenia/flow/__init__.py b/sarracenia/flow/__init__.py
index 3e4e62f95..d37ee4d28 100644
--- a/sarracenia/flow/__init__.py
+++ b/sarracenia/flow/__init__.py
@@ -1658,6 +1658,7 @@ def mkdir(self, msg) -> bool:
             except Exception as ex:
                 logger.warning("making %s: %s" % (msg['new_dir'], ex))
                 logger.debug('Exception details:', exc_info=True)
+                return False
 
         if os.path.isdir(path):
             logger.debug( f"no need to mkdir {path} as it exists" )
@@ -1708,6 +1709,7 @@ def link1file(self, msg, symbolic=True) -> bool:
             except Exception as ex:
                 logger.warning("making %s: %s" % (msg['new_dir'], ex))
                 logger.debug('Exception details:', exc_info=True)
+                return False
 
         ok = True
         try:
@@ -1774,6 +1776,8 @@ def do_download(self) -> None:
                 except Exception as ex:
                     logger.warning("making %s: %s" % (msg['new_dir'], ex))
                     logger.debug('Exception details:', exc_info=True)
+                    self.reject(msg, 422, f"cannot create directory {msg['new_dir']} to put file in it." )
+                    continue
         
             os.chdir(msg['new_dir'])
             logger.debug( f"chdir {msg['new_dir']}")