diff --git a/lib/libutil/libutil.h b/lib/libutil/libutil.h
index 695a8cbc3f6..35c1163ed76 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/libutil.h
+++ b/lib/libutil/libutil.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  * 5. Modifications may be freely made to this file providing the above
  *    conditions are met.
  *
- * $Id: libutil.h,v 1.4 1997/02/22 15:08:14 peter Exp $
+ * $Id: libutil.h,v 1.5 1997/03/30 12:11:27 brian Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef _LIBUTIL_H_
@@ -41,8 +41,16 @@ int	openpty __P((int *amaster, int *aslave, char *name,
 		     struct termios *termp, struct winsize *winp));
 int	forkpty __P((int *amaster, char *name,
 		     struct termios *termp, struct winsize *winp));
+char	*uu_lockerr __P((int uu_lockresult));
 int	uu_lock __P((char *ttyname));
 int	uu_unlock __P((char *ttyname));
 __END_DECLS
 
+#define UU_LOCK_INUSE (1)
+#define UU_LOCK_OK (0)
+#define UU_LOCK_OPEN_ERR (-1)
+#define UU_LOCK_READ_ERR (-2)
+#define UU_LOCK_SEEK_ERR (-3)
+#define UU_LOCK_WRITE_ERR (-4)
+
 #endif /* !_LIBUTIL_H_ */
diff --git a/lib/libutil/uucplock.3 b/lib/libutil/uucplock.3
index a8b5df8e031..0c1ae7e498f 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/uucplock.3
+++ b/lib/libutil/uucplock.3
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 .\" (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
 .\" THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 .\" 
-.\" $Id$
+.\" $Id: uucplock.3,v 1.1 1997/03/30 12:11:29 brian Exp $
 .\" "
 .Dd March 30, 1997
 .Os
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 .Fn uu_lock "char *ttyname"
 .Ft int
 .Fn uu_unlock "char *ttyname"
+.Ft char *
+.Fn uu_lockerr "int uu_lockresult"
 .Pp
 Link with
 .Va -lutil
@@ -68,23 +70,70 @@ Care should be taken that
 .Fn uu_lock
 was successful before calling
 .Fn uu_unlock .
+.Pp
+.Fn uu_lockerr
+returns an error string representing the error
+.Fa uu_lockresult ,
+as returned from
+.Fn uu_lock .
 .Sh RETURN VALUES
-Both
+.Fn uu_unlock
+returns 0 on success and -1 on failure.
+.Pp
+.Fn uu_lock
+may return any of the following values:
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_INUSE:
+The lock is in use by another process.
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_OK:
+The lock was successfully created.
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_OPEN_ERR:
+The lock file could not be opened via
+.Xr open 2 .
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_READ_ERR:
+The lock file could not be read via
+.Xr read 2 .
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_SEEK_ERR:
+The lock file was
+.Dq stale ,
+but the call to
+.Xr lseek 2
+necessary to write the current process id failed.
+.Pp
+.Dv UU_LOCK_WRITE_ERR:
+The current process id could not be written to the lock file via a call to
+.Xr write 2 .
+.Pp
+If a value of
+.Dv UU_LOCK_OK
+is passed to
+.Fn uu_lockerr ,
+a
+.Dv NULL
+pointer is returned.  If a value of
+.Dv UU_LOCK_INUSE
+is passed, an empty string is returned.  Otherwise, a string specifying
+the reason for failure is returned.
+.Fn uu_lockerr
+uses the current value of
+.Dv errno
+to determine the exact error.  Care should be made not to allow
+.Dv errno
+to be changed between calls to
 .Fn uu_lock
 and
-.Fn uu_unlock
-return 0 on success and -1 on failure.
+.Fn uu_lockerr .
 .Sh ERRORS
-On failure,
+If
 .Fn uu_lock
-will log any unexpected errors using
-.Xr syslog 2 .
-If the lock already exists and contains the process id of a running
-process,
-.Fn uu_lock
-will silently fail.  The value of
+returns one of the four error values above, the global value
 .Dv errno
-can not be used to determine the cause of failure.
+can be used to determine the cause.  Refer to the respective manual pages
+for further details.
 .Pp
 .Fn uu_unlock
 will set the global variable
@@ -93,9 +142,23 @@ to reflect the reason that the lock file could not be removed.
 Refer to the description of
 .Xr unlink 2
 for further details.
+.Sh SEE ALSO
+.Xr open 2 ,
+.Xr read 2 ,
+.Xr lseek 2 ,
+.Xr write 2
 .Sh BUGS
-Locking is not atomic.  Should a race condition occur, it's entirely
-possible that both processes obtain the lock.
+Locking is not atomic.  Should a race condition occur, it's
+possible that the
+.Dq losing
+process fails to identify the
+.Dq winning
+process.  If this happens,
+.Fn uu_lock
+returns
+.Dv UU_LOCK_READ_ERR
+and errno is set to
+.Dv EINVAL .
 .Pp
 It is possible that a stale lock is not recognised as such if a new
 processes is assigned the same processes id as the program that left
diff --git a/lib/libutil/uucplock.c b/lib/libutil/uucplock.c
index 20eafe487dc..0f08646c65d 100644
--- a/lib/libutil/uucplock.c
+++ b/lib/libutil/uucplock.c
@@ -47,12 +47,14 @@ static const char sccsid[] = "@(#)uucplock.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 6/6/93";
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <paths.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include "libutil.h"
 
 #define LOCKFMT "LCK..%s"
 
 /* Forward declarations */
 static int put_pid (int fd, pid_t pid);
-static pid_t get_pid (int fd);
+static pid_t get_pid (int fd,int *err);
 
 /*
  * uucp style locking routines
@@ -65,6 +67,7 @@ int uu_lock (char *ttyname)
 	int fd;
 	pid_t pid;
 	char tbuf[sizeof(_PATH_UUCPLOCK) + MAXNAMLEN];
+	int err;
 
 	(void)sprintf(tbuf, _PATH_UUCPLOCK LOCKFMT, ttyname);
 	fd = open(tbuf, O_RDWR|O_CREAT|O_EXCL, 0660);
@@ -74,56 +77,41 @@ int uu_lock (char *ttyname)
 		 * check to see if the process holding the lock still exists
 		 */
 		fd = open(tbuf, O_RDWR, 0);
-		if (fd < 0) {
-#ifndef USE_PERROR
-			syslog(LOG_ERR, "lock open: %m");
-#else
-			perror("lock open");
-#endif
-			return(-1);
-		}
-		if ((pid = get_pid (fd)) == -1) {
-#ifndef USE_PERROR
-			syslog(LOG_ERR, "lock read: %m");
-#else
-			perror("lock read");
-#endif
+		if (fd < 0)
+			return UU_LOCK_OPEN_ERR;
+
+		if ((pid = get_pid (fd, &err)) == -1) {
 			(void)close(fd);
-			return(-1);
+			errno = err;
+			return UU_LOCK_READ_ERR;
 		}
 
 		if (kill(pid, 0) == 0 || errno != ESRCH) {
 			(void)close(fd);	/* process is still running */
-			return(-1);
+			return UU_LOCK_INUSE;
 		}
 		/*
 		 * The process that locked the file isn't running, so
 		 * we'll lock it ourselves
 		 */
 		if (lseek(fd, (off_t) 0, L_SET) < 0) {
-#ifndef USE_PERROR
-			syslog(LOG_ERR, "lock lseek: %m");
-#else
-			perror("lock lseek");
-#endif
+			err = errno;
 			(void)close(fd);
-			return(-1);
+			errno = err;
+			return UU_LOCK_SEEK_ERR;
 		}
 		/* fall out and finish the locking process */
 	}
 	pid = getpid();
 	if (!put_pid (fd, pid)) {
-#ifndef USE_PERROR
-		syslog(LOG_ERR, "lock write: %m");
-#else
-		perror("lock write");
-#endif
+		err = errno;
 		(void)close(fd);
 		(void)unlink(tbuf);
-		return(-1);
+		errno = err;
+		return UU_LOCK_WRITE_ERR;
 	}
 	(void)close(fd);
-	return(0);
+	return UU_LOCK_OK;
 }
 
 int uu_unlock (char *ttyname)
@@ -131,7 +119,43 @@ int uu_unlock (char *ttyname)
 	char tbuf[sizeof(_PATH_UUCPLOCK) + MAXNAMLEN];
 
 	(void)sprintf(tbuf, _PATH_UUCPLOCK LOCKFMT, ttyname);
-	return(unlink(tbuf));
+	return unlink(tbuf);
+}
+
+char *uu_lockerr (int uu_lockresult)
+{
+	static char errbuf[512];
+	int len;
+
+	switch (uu_lockresult) {
+		case UU_LOCK_INUSE:
+			return "";
+		case UU_LOCK_OK:
+			return 0;
+		case UU_LOCK_OPEN_ERR:
+			strcpy(errbuf,"open error: ");
+			len = 12;
+			break;
+		case UU_LOCK_READ_ERR:
+			strcpy(errbuf,"read error: ");
+			len = 12;
+			break;
+		case UU_LOCK_SEEK_ERR:
+			strcpy(errbuf,"seek error: ");
+			len = 12;
+			break;
+		case UU_LOCK_WRITE_ERR:
+			strcpy(errbuf,"write error: ");
+			len = 13;
+			break;
+		default:
+			strcpy(errbuf,"Undefined error: ");
+			len = 17;
+			break;
+	}
+
+	strncpy(errbuf+len,strerror(errno),sizeof(errbuf)-len-1);
+	return errbuf;
 }
 
 static int put_pid (int fd, pid_t pid)
@@ -143,7 +167,7 @@ static int put_pid (int fd, pid_t pid)
 	return write (fd, buf, len) == len;
 }
 
-static pid_t get_pid (int fd)
+static pid_t get_pid (int fd,int *err)
 {
 	int bytes_read;
 	char buf[32];
@@ -153,8 +177,10 @@ static pid_t get_pid (int fd)
 	if (bytes_read > 0) {
 		buf[bytes_read] = '\0';
 		pid = strtol (buf, (char **) NULL, 10);
-	} else
+	} else {
 		pid = -1;
+		*err = bytes_read ? errno : EINVAL;
+	}
 	return pid;
 }
 
diff --git a/sbin/slattach/slattach.c b/sbin/slattach/slattach.c
index ab38ffb75a9..506cad6caca 100644
--- a/sbin/slattach/slattach.c
+++ b/sbin/slattach/slattach.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static char copyright[] =
 
 #ifndef lint
 /*static char sccsid[] = "from: @(#)slattach.c	4.6 (Berkeley) 6/1/90";*/
-static char rcsid[] = "$Id: slattach.c,v 1.25 1997/02/22 14:33:19 peter Exp $";
+static char rcsid[] = "$Id: slattach.c,v 1.26 1997/03/29 03:33:07 imp Exp $";
 #endif /* not lint */
 
 #include <sys/param.h>
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ static char rcsid[] = "$Id: slattach.c,v 1.25 1997/02/22 14:33:19 peter Exp $";
 #include <syslog.h>
 #include <termios.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include <libutil.h>
 
 #include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <net/if.h>
@@ -294,7 +295,10 @@ void acquire_line()
 
 	if (uucp_lock) {
 		/* unlock not needed here, always re-lock with new pid */
-		if (uu_lock(dvname)) {
+		int res;
+		if ((res = uu_lock(dvname)) != UU_LOCK_OK) {
+			if (res != UU_LOCK_INUSE)
+				syslog(LOG_ERR, "uu_lock: %s", uu_lockerr(res));
 			syslog(LOG_ERR, "can't lock %s", dev);
 			exit_handler(1);
 		}
@@ -474,7 +478,10 @@ again:
 		if (system(redial_cmd))
 			goto again;
 		if (uucp_lock) {
-			if (uu_lock(dvname)) {
+			int res;
+			if ((res = uu_lock(dvname)) != UU_LOCK_OK) {
+				if (res != UU_LOCK_INUSE)
+					syslog(LOG_ERR, "uu_lock: %s", uu_lockerr(res));
 				syslog(LOG_ERR, "can't relock %s after %s, aborting",
 					dev, redial_cmd);
 				exit_handler(1);
diff --git a/sbin/startslip/startslip.c b/sbin/startslip/startslip.c
index 90d928c39ac..60d97e029c6 100644
--- a/sbin/startslip/startslip.c
+++ b/sbin/startslip/startslip.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
  * OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
  * SUCH DAMAGE.
  *
- * $Id: startslip.c,v 1.22 1997/02/22 14:33:20 peter Exp $
+ * $Id: startslip.c,v 1.23 1997/03/29 03:33:08 imp Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef lint
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ static char sccsid[] = "@(#)startslip.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 6/5/93";
 #include <termios.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include <libutil.h>
 
 #include <netinet/in.h>
 #include <net/if.h>
@@ -289,7 +290,10 @@ restart:
 	}
 	printd("open");
 	if (uucp_lock) {
-		if (uu_lock(dvname)) {
+		int res;
+		if ((res = uu_lock(dvname)) != UU_LOCK_OK) {
+			if (res != UU_LOCK_INUSE)
+				syslog(LOG_ERR, "uu_lock: %s", uu_lockerr(res));
 			syslog(LOG_ERR, "%s: can't lock %s", username, devicename);
 			goto restart;
 		}
diff --git a/usr.bin/tip/tip/Makefile b/usr.bin/tip/tip/Makefile
index 073a0e497c2..ec9aee18ae6 100644
--- a/usr.bin/tip/tip/Makefile
+++ b/usr.bin/tip/tip/Makefile
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ LIBACU=${.CURDIR}/../libacu/libacu.a
 .endif
 
 PROG=	tip
-CFLAGS+=-DUSE_PERROR
 DPADD=	$(LIBACU)
 LDADD=	$(LIBACU) -lutil
 LINKS=	${BINDIR}/tip
diff --git a/usr.bin/tip/tip/hunt.c b/usr.bin/tip/tip/hunt.c
index 97e3a6aa265..e99e73ba16c 100644
--- a/usr.bin/tip/tip/hunt.c
+++ b/usr.bin/tip/tip/hunt.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 static char sccsid[] = "@(#)hunt.c	8.1 (Berkeley) 6/6/93";
 #endif /* not lint */
 
+#include <libutil.h>
 #include "tipconf.h"
 #include "tip.h"
 
@@ -56,13 +57,17 @@ hunt(name)
 {
 	register char *cp;
 	sig_t f;
+	int res;
 
 	f = signal(SIGALRM, dead);
 	while (cp = getremote(name)) {
 		deadfl = 0;
 		uucplock = rindex(cp, '/')+1;
-		if (uu_lock(uucplock) < 0)
+		if ((res = uu_lock(uucplock)) != UU_LOCK_OK) {
+			if (res != UU_LOCK_INUSE)
+				fprintf(stderr, "uu_lock: %s\n", uu_lockerr(res));
 			continue;
+		}
 		/*
 		 * Straight through call units, such as the BIZCOMP,
 		 * VADIC and the DF, must indicate they're hardwired in
diff --git a/usr.sbin/ppp/Makefile b/usr.sbin/ppp/Makefile
index d28e5436fc9..4a2e2baf3ef 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ppp/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/ppp/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#	$Id: Makefile,v 1.16 1997/03/13 12:45:26 brian Exp $
+#	$Id: Makefile,v 1.17 1997/03/30 12:12:20 brian Exp $
 
 PROG=	ppp
 SRCS=	async.c auth.c ccp.c chap.c chat.c command.c filter.c fsm.c hdlc.c \
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ SRCS=	async.c auth.c ccp.c chap.c chat.c command.c filter.c fsm.c hdlc.c \
 	vjcomp.c arp.c alias.c alias_db.c alias_ftp.c alias_util.c \
 	passwdauth.c sig.c
 #CFLAGS+= -DHAVE_SHELL_CMD_WITH_ANY_MODE
-CFLAGS += -Wall -DUSE_PERROR -DMSEXT -DPASSWDAUTH
+CFLAGS += -Wall -DMSEXT -DPASSWDAUTH
 LDADD += -lmd -lcrypt -lutil
 DPADD += ${LIBMD} ${LIBCRYPT} ${LIBUTIL}
 MAN8=	ppp.8
diff --git a/usr.sbin/ppp/modem.c b/usr.sbin/ppp/modem.c
index e791776f67d..074276a447c 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/ppp/modem.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/ppp/modem.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  * IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
  * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
  *
- * $Id: modem.c,v 1.30 1997/03/10 06:21:02 ache Exp $
+ * $Id: modem.c,v 1.31 1997/03/10 06:54:58 ache Exp $
  *
  *  TODO:
  */
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <sys/tty.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <time.h>
+#include <libutil.h>
 #include "hdlc.h"
 #include "lcp.h"
 #include "ip.h"
@@ -48,7 +49,6 @@ static int connect_count;
 static struct pppTimer ModemTimer;
 static char uucplock[10];
 
-extern int uu_lock(), uu_unlock();
 extern void PacketMode(), TtyTermMode(), TtyCommandMode();
 extern int TermMode;
 
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ int mode;
   struct termios rstio;
   int oldflag;
   char *host, *cp, *port;
+  int res;
 
   mbits = 0;
   if (mode & MODE_DIRECT) {
@@ -392,8 +393,12 @@ int mode;
     if (strncmp(VarDevice, "/dev", 4) == 0) {
       strncpy(uucplock, rindex(VarDevice, '/')+1,sizeof(uucplock)-1);
       uucplock[sizeof(uucplock)-1] = '\0';
-      if (uu_lock(uucplock) < 0) {
-        LogPrintf(LOG_PHASE_BIT, "Modem %s is in use\n", VarDevice);
+      if ((res = uu_lock(uucplock)) != UU_LOCK_OK) {
+        if (res == UU_LOCK_INUSE)
+          LogPrintf(LOG_PHASE_BIT, "Modem %s is in use\n", VarDevice);
+        else
+          LogPrintf(LOG_PHASE_BIT, "Modem %s is in use: uu_lock: %s\n",
+                    VarDevice, uu_lockerr(res));
         return(-1);
       }
       modem = open(VarDevice, O_RDWR|O_NONBLOCK);