diff --git a/build b/build
index 8341cd5..3a93e03 100755
--- a/build
+++ b/build
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export LC_ALL=C
 . "include/option.sh"
 
 eval "$(setvars "" option aur_notice tmpdir)"
+err="fail"
 
 tmpdir_was_set="y"
 set | grep TMPDIR 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null || tmpdir_was_set="n"
@@ -35,10 +36,10 @@ buildpath="./script/${linkname}"
 
 main()
 {
-	xx_ id -u 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null
-	[ $# -lt 1 ] && fail "Too few arguments. Try: ${0} help"
+	x_ id -u 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null
+	[ $# -lt 1 ] && $err "Too few arguments. Try: ${0} help"
 
-	[ "$1" = "dependencies" ] && xx_ install_packages $@ && cbmk_exit 0
+	[ "$1" = "dependencies" ] && x_ install_packages $@ && cbmk_exit 0
 
 	for cmd in initcmd check_git check_project git_init excmd; do
 		eval "${cmd} \$@"
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ main()
 
 initcmd()
 {
-	[ "$(id -u)" != "0" ] || fail "this command as root is not permitted"
+	[ "$(id -u)" != "0" ] || $err "this command as root is not permitted"
 
 	check_project
 
@@ -69,14 +70,14 @@ install_packages()
 		printf "You must specify a distro, namely:\n" 1>&2
 		printf "Look at files under config/dependencies/\n" 1>&2
 		printf "Example: ./build dependencies debian\n" 1>&2
-		fail "install_packages: target not specified"
+		$err "install_packages: target not specified"
 	fi
 
-	[ -f "config/dependencies/${2}" ] || fail "Unsupported target"
+	[ -f "config/dependencies/${2}" ] || $err "Unsupported target"
 
 	. "config/dependencies/${2}"
 
-	xx_ ${pkg_add} ${pkglist}
+	x_ ${pkg_add} ${pkglist}
 	[ -z "${aur_notice}" ] && return 0
 	printf "You must install AUR packages: %s\n" "$aur_notice" 1>&2
 }
@@ -85,24 +86,24 @@ install_packages()
 # cbmk can be run from cbmk.git, or an archive.
 git_init()
 {
-	[ -L ".git" ] && fail "Reference .git is a symlink"
+	[ -L ".git" ] && $err "Reference .git is a symlink"
 	[ -e ".git" ] && return 0
 	eval "$(setvars "$(date -Rd @${versiondate})" cdate _nogit)"
 
-	git init || fail "${PWD}: cannot initialise Git repository"
-	git add -A . || fail "${PWD}: cannot add files to Git repository"
+	git init || $err "${PWD}: cannot initialise Git repository"
+	git add -A . || $err "${PWD}: cannot add files to Git repository"
 	git commit -m "${projectname} ${version}" --date "${cdate}" \
 	    --author="cbmk <cbmk@canoeboot.org>" || \
-	    fail "$PWD: can't commit ${projectname}/${version}, date $cdate"
+	    $err "$PWD: can't commit ${projectname}/${version}, date $cdate"
 	git tag -a "${version}" -m "${projectname} ${version}" || \
-	    fail "${PWD}: cannot git-tag ${projectname}/${version}"
+	    $err "${PWD}: cannot git-tag ${projectname}/${version}"
 }
 
 excmd()
 {
 	cbmkcmd="${buildpath}/${option}"
-	[ -f "${cbmkcmd}" ] || fail "Invalid command. Run: ${linkpath} help"
-	shift 1; "$cbmkcmd" $@ || fail "excmd: ${cbmkcmd} ${@}"
+	[ -f "${cbmkcmd}" ] || $err "Invalid command. Run: ${linkpath} help"
+	shift 1; "$cbmkcmd" $@ || $err "excmd: ${cbmkcmd} ${@}"
 }
 
 usage()
@@ -131,14 +132,14 @@ mkversion()
 
 cbmk_exit()
 {
-	tmp_cleanup || err "cbmk_exit: can't rm tmpdir upon exit $1: $tmpdir"
+	tmp_cleanup || err_ "cbmk_exit: can't rm tmpdir upon exit $1: $tmpdir"
 	exit $1
 }
 
 fail()
 {
 	tmp_cleanup || printf "WARNING: can't rm tmpdir: %s\n" "$tmpdir" 1>&2
-	err "${1}"
+	err_ "${1}"
 }
 
 tmp_cleanup()
diff --git a/include/err.sh b/include/err.sh
index cab81d0..5b66c99 100755
--- a/include/err.sh
+++ b/include/err.sh
@@ -2,19 +2,10 @@
 # SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022, 2023 Leah Rowe <leah@libreboot.org>
 
 version=""; versiondate=""; projectname=""; _nogit=""
+err="err_"
 
 x_() {
-	[ $# -lt 1 ] || ${@} || err_exit err ${@}
-}
-xx_() {
-	[ $# -lt 1 ] || ${@} || err_exit fail ${@}
-}
-
-err_exit()
-{
-	_fail="${1}" && shift 1
-	echo "Non-zero exit: $@"
-	$_fail "Unhandled error"
+	[ $# -lt 1 ] || ${@} || $err "Unhandled non-zero exit: $@"; return 0
 }
 
 check_git()
@@ -30,8 +21,7 @@ check_git()
 git_err()
 {
 	printf "You need to set git name/email, like so:\n%s\n\n" "$1" 1>&2
-	fail "Git name/email not configured" || \
-	    err "Git name/email not configured"
+	$err "Git name/email not configured"
 }
 
 check_project()
@@ -49,9 +39,8 @@ check_project()
 	    --pretty='%ct' HEAD)" || versiondate="${versiondate_}"
 
 	for p in projectname version versiondate; do
-		eval "[ -n \"\$$p\" ] || fail \"$p unset\" || err \"$p unset\""
-		p_="x_ printf \"%s\\n\" \"\$$p\" > $p"
-		eval "x$p_ || $p_"
+		eval "[ -n \"\$$p\" ] || $err \"$p unset\""
+		eval "x_ printf \"%s\\n\" \"\$$p\" > $p"
 	done
 	export LOCALVERSION="-${projectname}-${version%%-*}"
 }
@@ -59,7 +48,7 @@ check_project()
 setvars()
 {
 	_setvars=""
-	[ $# -lt 2 ] && err "setvars: too few arguments"
+	[ $# -lt 2 ] && $err "setvars: too few arguments"
 	val="${1}" && shift 1
 	for var in $@; do
 		_setvars="${var}=\"${val}\"; ${_setvars}"
@@ -67,7 +56,7 @@ setvars()
 	printf "%s\n" "${_setvars% }"
 }
 
-err()
+err_()
 {
 	printf "ERROR %s: %s\n" "${0}" "${1}" 1>&2
 	exit 1
diff --git a/include/git.sh b/include/git.sh
index 50f3e42..2879334 100755
--- a/include/git.sh
+++ b/include/git.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fetch_from_upstream()
 
 fetch_config()
 {
-	rm -f "${cfgsdir}/"*/seen || err "fetch_config ${cfgsdir}: !rm seen"
+	rm -f "${cfgsdir}/"*/seen || $err "fetch_config ${cfgsdir}: !rm seen"
 	eval "$(setvars "" xtree tree_depend)"
 	while true; do
 		eval "$(setvars "" rev tree)"
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ fetch_config()
 
 load_target_config()
 {
-	[ -f "$cfgsdir/$1/target.cfg" ] || err "$1: target.cfg missing"
+	[ -f "$cfgsdir/$1/target.cfg" ] || $err "$1: target.cfg missing"
 	[ -f "${cfgsdir}/${1}/seen" ] && \
-		err "${_xm} check: infinite loop in tree definitions"
+		$err "${_xm} check: infinite loop in tree definitions"
 
-	. "$cfgsdir/$1/target.cfg" || err "load_target_config !$cfgsdir/$1"
-	touch "$cfgsdir/$1/seen" || err "load_config $cfgsdir/$1: !mk seen"
+	. "$cfgsdir/$1/target.cfg" || $err "load_target_config !$cfgsdir/$1"
+	touch "$cfgsdir/$1/seen" || $err "load_config $cfgsdir/$1: !mk seen"
 }
 
 prepare_new_tree()
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ prepare_new_tree()
 	printf "Creating %s tree %s (%s)\n" "$project" "$tree" "$_target"
 
 	cp -R "src/${project}/${project}" "${tmpgit}" || \
-	    err "prepare_new_tree ${project}/${tree}: can't make tmpclone"
+	    $err "prepare_new_tree ${project}/${tree}: can't make tmpclone"
 	git_prep "$PWD/$cfgsdir/$tree/patches" "src/$project/$tree" "update"
 	nukeblobs "$project/$tree" "$project/$tree"
 }
@@ -66,15 +66,15 @@ fetch_project_repo()
 {
 	eval "$(setvars "" xtree tree_depend)"
 
-	scan_config "${project}" "config/git" "err"
-	[ -z "${loc+x}" ] && err "fetch_project_repo $project: loc not set"
-	[ -z "${url+x}" ] && err "fetch_project_repo $project: url not set"
+	scan_config "${project}" "config/git"
+	[ -z "${loc+x}" ] && $err "fetch_project_repo $project: loc not set"
+	[ -z "${url+x}" ] && $err "fetch_project_repo $project: url not set"
 
 	clone_project
 	[ -z "${depend}" ] || for d in ${depend} ; do
 		x_ ./update trees -f ${d}
 	done
-	rm -Rf "${tmpgit}" || err "fetch_repo: !rm -Rf ${tmpgit}"
+	rm -Rf "${tmpgit}" || $err "fetch_repo: !rm -Rf ${tmpgit}"
 
 	for x in config/git/*; do
  		[ -f "${x}" ] && nukeblobs "${x##*/}" "src/${x##*/}"; continue
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ clone_project()
 	fi
 
 	git clone $url "$tmpgit" || git clone $bkup_url "$tmpgit" \
-	    || err "clone_project: could not download ${project}"
+	    || $err "clone_project: could not download ${project}"
 	git_prep "$PWD/config/$project/patches" "$loc"
 }
 
@@ -100,26 +100,26 @@ git_prep()
 	_patchdir="$1"
 	_loc="$2"
 
-	[ -z "${rev+x}" ] && err "git_prep $_loc: rev not set"
-	git -C "$tmpgit" reset --hard $rev || err "git -C $_loc: !reset $rev"
-	git_am_patches "$tmpgit" "$_patchdir" || err "!am $_loc $_patchdir"
+	[ -z "${rev+x}" ] && $err "git_prep $_loc: rev not set"
+	git -C "$tmpgit" reset --hard $rev || $err "git -C $_loc: !reset $rev"
+	git_am_patches "$tmpgit" "$_patchdir" || $err "!am $_loc $_patchdir"
 
 	if [ "$project" != "coreboot" ] || [ $# -gt 2 ]; then
 		[ ! -f "$tmpgit/.gitmodules" ] || git -C "$tmpgit" submodule \
-		    update --init --checkout || err "git_prep $_loc: !submod"
+		    update --init --checkout || $err "git_prep $_loc: !submod"
 		if [ "$project" = "coreboot" ] && [ -n "$xtree" ] && \
 		    [ "$xtree" != "$tree" ]; then
 			(
-			cd "$tmpgit/util" || err "prep $_loc: !cd $tmpgit/util"
-			rm -Rf crossgcc || err "prep $_loc: !rm xgcc"
+			cd "$tmpgit/util" || $err "prep $_loc: !cd $tmpgit/util"
+			rm -Rf crossgcc || $err "prep $_loc: !rm xgcc"
 			ln -s "../../$xtree/util/crossgcc" crossgcc || \
-			    err "prep $_loc: can't create xgcc symlink"
-			) || err "prep $_loc: can't create xgcc symlink"
+			    $err "prep $_loc: can't create xgcc symlink"
+			) || $err "prep $_loc: can't create xgcc symlink"
 		fi
 	fi
 
 	[ "$_loc" = "${_loc%/*}" ] || x_ mkdir -p "${_loc%/*}"
-	mv "$tmpgit" "$_loc" || err "git_prep: !mv $tmpgit $_loc"
+	mv "$tmpgit" "$_loc" || $err "git_prep: !mv $tmpgit $_loc"
 	[ -n "$xtree" ] && [ ! -d "src/coreboot/$xtree" ] && \
 		x_ ./update project trees -f coreboot "$xtree"; return 0
 }
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ git_am_patches()
 {
 	for _patch in "$2/"*; do
 		[ -L "$_patch" ] || [ ! -f "$_patch" ] || git -C "$1" am \
-		    "$_patch" || err "git_am $1 $2: !git am $_patch"; continue
+		    "$_patch" || $err "git_am $1 $2: !git am $_patch"; continue
 	done
 	for _patches in "$2/"*; do
 		[ ! -L "$_patches" ] && [ -d "$_patches" ] && \
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ nukeblobs()
 		[ -e "${rmf}" ] || continue
 		del="y"
 		rm -Rf "${rmf}" || \
-		    err "nukeblobs ${pjcfgdir}/blobs: can't rm \"${blobfile}\""
+		    $err "nukeblobs ${pjcfgdir}/blobs: can't rm \"${blobfile}\""
 		printf "nukeblobs %s: deleted \"%s\"\n" "${pjcfgdir}" "${rmf}"
 	done < "config/${pjcfgdir}/blobs.list"
 
diff --git a/include/option.sh b/include/option.sh
index dd53602..3dc9db4 100755
--- a/include/option.sh
+++ b/include/option.sh
@@ -35,10 +35,9 @@ scan_config()
 {
 	awkstr=" /\{.*${1}.*}{/ {flag=1;next} /\}/{flag=0} flag { print }"
 	confdir="${2}"
-	_fail="${3}"
 	revfile="$(mktemp -t sources.XXXXXXXXXX)"
 	cat "${confdir}/"* > "${revfile}" || \
-	    "${_fail}" "scan_config ${confdir}: Cannot concatenate files"
+	    $err "scan_config ${confdir}: Cannot concatenate files"
 	while read -r line ; do
 		set ${line} 1>/dev/null 2>/dev/null || :
 		if [ "${1%:}" = "depend" ]; then
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ scan_config()
 	done << EOF
 	$(eval "awk '${awkstr}' \"${revfile}\"")
 EOF
-	rm -f "$revfile" || "$_fail" "scan_config: Cannot remove tmpfile"
+	rm -f "$revfile" || $err "scan_config: Cannot remove tmpfile"
 }
 
 check_defconfig()
@@ -73,6 +72,6 @@ handle_coreboot_utils()
 
 remkdir()
 {
-	rm -Rf "${1}" || err "remkdir: !rm -Rf \"${1}\""
-	mkdir -p "${1}" || err "remkdir: !mkdir -p \"${1}\""
+	rm -Rf "${1}" || $err "remkdir: !rm -Rf \"${1}\""
+	mkdir -p "${1}" || $err "remkdir: !mkdir -p \"${1}\""
 }
diff --git a/script/build/roms b/script/build/roms
index 9e7c69e..a90e1da 100755
--- a/script/build/roms
+++ b/script/build/roms
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ main()
 	done
 
 	[ "${all}" != "y" ] || boards=$(items config/coreboot) || \
-	    err "Cannot generate list of boards for building"
+	    $err "Cannot generate list of boards for building"
 
 	for x in ${boards}; do
 		eval "$(setvars "n" ${pv}) $(setvars "" ${v})"
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ main()
 		targets="* bin/${board}\n${targets}"
 	done
 
-	[ -z "${targets}" ] && err "No ROM images were compiled"
+	[ -z "${targets}" ] && $err "No ROM images were compiled"
 	printf "\nROM images available in these directories:\n"
 	eval "printf \"${targets}\""
 	printf "^^ ROM images available in these directories.\n\n"
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ configure_target()
 {
 	targetdir="${cfgsdir}/${board}"
 	[ -f "${targetdir}/target.cfg" ] || \
-		err "Missing target.cfg for target: ${board}"
+		$err "Missing target.cfg for target: ${board}"
 
 	# Override the above defaults using target.cfg
 	. "${targetdir}/target.cfg"
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ configure_target()
 	    && [ "${grub_scan_disk}" != "ahci" ] && \
 		grub_scan_disk="both"
 
-	[ -z "$tree" ] && err "$board: tree not defined"
+	[ -z "$tree" ] && $err "$board: tree not defined"
 
 	[ "${payload_memtest}" != "y" ] && payload_memtest="n"
 	[ "${payload_grub_withseabios}" = "y" ] && payload_grub="y"
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ configure_target()
 	    [ "${payload_uboot}" != "y" ] && \
 		for configfile in "${targetdir}/config/"*; do
 			[ -e "${configfile}" ] || continue
-			err "target '${board}' defines no payload"
+			$err "target '${board}' defines no payload"
 		done
 
 	[ "$payload_uboot" != "n" ] && [ "$payload_uboot" != "y" ] && \
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ build_grub_payload()
 		keymaps="${keymaps} ${keymapfile}"
 	done
 	[ -z "$_keyboard" ] || [ -f "$grubcfgsdir/keymap/$_keyboard.gkb" ] || \
-		err "build_grub_payload: $_keyboard layout not defined"
+		$err "build_grub_payload: $_keyboard layout not defined"
 	[ -n "$_keyboard" ] && keymaps="${grubcfgsdir}/keymap/${_keyboard}.gkb"
 	[ -f "$grubelf" ] && return 0
 	[ -f "src/grub/grub-mkstandalone" ] || x_ ./update trees -b grub
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ build_grub_payload()
 	    --install-modules="${grub_install_modules}" \
 	    "/boot/grub/grub.cfg=${grubcfgsdir}/config/grub_memdisk.cfg" \
 	    "/boot/grub/grub_default.cfg=${grubcfgsdir}/config/grub.cfg" || \
-	    err "could not generate grub.elf"
+	    $err "could not generate grub.elf"
 }
 
 build_uboot_payload()
@@ -175,12 +175,12 @@ build_uboot_payload()
 	[ ! -f "${ubootelf}" ] && [ -f "${ubdir}/u-boot" ] && \
 		ubootelf="${ubdir}/u-boot"
 	[ -f "${ubootelf}" ] && return 0
-	err "Can't find u-boot build for board, $board";
+	$err "Can't find u-boot build for board, $board";
 }
 
 build_target_mainboard()
 {
-	rm -f "${romdir}/"* || err "!prepare, rm files, ${romdir}"
+	rm -f "${romdir}/"* || $err "!prepare, rm files, ${romdir}"
 
 	for x in "normal" "vgarom" "libgfxinit"; do
 		initmode="${x}"
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ build_seabios_roms()
 		x_ build_grub_roms "${t}" "seabios_withgrub"
 	else
 		t=$(mkSeabiosRom "${cbrom}" "fallback/payload") || \
-		    err "build_seabios_roms: cannot build tmprom"
+		    $err "build_seabios_roms: cannot build tmprom"
 		newrom="${romdir}/seabios_${board}_${initmode}_${displaymode}"
 		[ "${initmode}" = "normal" ] && newrom="${romdir}/seabios" \
 			&& newrom="${newrom}_${board}_${initmode}"
@@ -256,13 +256,13 @@ build_grub_roms()
 	if [ "$payload1" = "grub" ] && [ "$payload_grub_withseabios" = "y" ]
 	then
 		_tmpmvrom=$(mkSeabiosRom "$tmprom" "seabios.elf") || \
-		    err "build_grub_roms 1 $board: can't build tmprom"
+		    $err "build_grub_roms 1 $board: can't build tmprom"
 		x_ mv "$_tmpmvrom" "$tmprom"
 	elif [ "$payload1" != "grub" ] && [ "$payload_seabios_withgrub" = "y" ]
 	then
 		grub_cbfs="img/grub2"
 		_tmpmvrom=$(mkSeabiosRom "$tmprom" fallback/payload) || \
-		    err "build_grub_roms 2 $board: can't build tmprom"
+		    $err "build_grub_roms 2 $board: can't build tmprom"
 		x_ mv "$_tmpmvrom" "$tmprom"
 	fi
 
@@ -276,16 +276,16 @@ build_grub_roms()
 		backgroundfile="config/grub/background/${grub_background}"
 		"${cbfstool}" "${tmprom}" add -f ${backgroundfile} \
 		    -n background.png -t raw || \
-		    err "insert background, ${backgroundfile}"
+		    $err "insert background, ${backgroundfile}"
 	fi
 
 	tmpcfg=$(mktemp -t coreboot_rom.XXXXXXXXXX)
 	printf "set grub_scan_disk=\"%s\"\n" "$grub_scan_disk" >"$tmpcfg" \
-	    || err "set grub_scandisk, $grub_scan_disk, $tmpcfg"
+	    || $err "set grub_scandisk, $grub_scan_disk, $tmpcfg"
 	[ "${grub_scan_disk}" = "both" ] || \
 	    x_ "$cbfstool" "$tmprom" add -f "$tmpcfg" -n scan.cfg -t raw
 	printf "set timeout=%s\n" "${grub_timeout}" > "${tmpcfg}" || \
-	    err "set timeout, ${grub_timeout}, ${tmpcfg}"
+	    $err "set timeout, ${grub_timeout}, ${tmpcfg}"
 	[ -z "${grub_timeout}" ] || x_ "${cbfstool}" "${tmprom}" add \
 	    -f "${tmpcfg}" -n timeout.cfg -t raw
 	x_ rm -f "${tmpcfg}"
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ mkSeabiosGrubonlyRom()
 	tmpbootorder=$(mktemp -t coreboot_rom.XXXXXXXXXX)
 
 	# only load grub, by inserting a custom bootorder file
-	printf "/rom@img/grub2\n" > "$tmpbootorder" || err "printf bootorder"
+	printf "/rom@img/grub2\n" > "$tmpbootorder" || $err "printf bootorder"
 	x_ "${cbfstool}" "${_grubrom}" \
 	    add -f "${tmpbootorder}" -n bootorder -t raw
 	x_ rm -f "${tmpbootorder}"
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ mkSeabiosGrubonlyRom()
 build_uboot_roms()
 {
 	tmprom=$(mkUbootRom "${cbrom}" "fallback/payload") || \
-	    err "build_uboot_roms $board: could not create tmprom"
+	    $err "build_uboot_roms $board: could not create tmprom"
 	newrom="${romdir}/uboot_payload_${board}_${initmode}_${displaymode}.rom"
 	x_ moverom "${tmprom}" "${newrom}"
 	x_ rm -f "${tmprom}"
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ mkUbootRom() {
 	_ubdir="elf/u-boot/${board}/${uboot_config}"
 	_ubootelf="${_ubdir}/u-boot.elf"
 	[ -f "${_ubootelf}" ] || _ubootelf="${_ubdir}/u-boot"
-	[ -f "$_ubootelf" ] || err "mkUbootRom: $board: cant find u-boot"
+	[ -f "$_ubootelf" ] || $err "mkUbootRom: $board: cant find u-boot"
 
 	tmprom=$(mktemp -t coreboot_rom.XXXXXXXXXX)
 
diff --git a/script/build/serprog b/script/build/serprog
index 8b003ad..ea2c02b 100755
--- a/script/build/serprog
+++ b/script/build/serprog
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ usage="usage: ./build firmware serprog <rp2040|stm32> [board]"
 
 main()
 {
-	[ -z "${1+x}" ] && err "${usage}"
-	[ "$1" != "rp2040" ] && [ "$1" != "stm32" ] && err "$usage"
+	[ -z "${1+x}" ] && $err "${usage}"
+	[ "$1" != "rp2040" ] && [ "$1" != "stm32" ] && $err "$usage"
 	if [ "${1}" = "rp2040" ]; then
 		boards_dir=${pico_sdk_dir}/src/boards/include/boards
 		[ -d "$pico_src_dir" ] || x_ ./update trees -f "pico-serprog"
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ print_boards()
 
 list_boards()
 {
-	basename -a -s .h "${1}/"*.h || err "list_boards $1: can't list boards"
+	basename -a -s .h "${1}/"*.h || $err "list_boards $1: can't list boards"
 }
 
 main $@
diff --git a/script/update/release b/script/update/release
index 65745f4..44d400f 100755
--- a/script/update/release
+++ b/script/update/release
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ main()
 {
 	vdir="release"
 	while getopts d:m: option; do
-		[ -z "${OPTARG}" ] && err "Empty argument not allowed"
+		[ -z "${OPTARG}" ] && $err "Empty argument not allowed"
 		case "${option}" in
 		d) vdir="${OPTARG}" ;;
 		m) mode="${OPTARG}" ;;
-		*) err "Invalid option" ;;
+		*) $err "Invalid option" ;;
 		esac
 	done
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ main()
 	src_dirname="${relname}_src"
 	srcdir="${vdir}/${src_dirname}"
 
-	[ -e "${vdir}" ] && err "already exists: \"${vdir}\""
+	[ -e "${vdir}" ] && $err "already exists: \"${vdir}\""
 
 	mkvdir
 	build_release
@@ -39,45 +39,45 @@ main()
 
 mkvdir()
 {
-	mkdir -p "${vdir}" || err "mkvdir: !mkdir -p \"${vdir}\""
-	git clone . "${srcdir}" || err "mkdir: !gitclone \"${srcdir}\""
-	insert_version_files "$srcdir" || err "mkvdir $srcdir: versionfile"
+	mkdir -p "${vdir}" || $err "mkvdir: !mkdir -p \"${vdir}\""
+	git clone . "${srcdir}" || $err "mkdir: !gitclone \"${srcdir}\""
+	insert_version_files "$srcdir" || $err "mkvdir $srcdir: versionfile"
 }
 
 build_release()
 {
 	_xm="build_release ${vdir}"
 	(
-	cd "${srcdir}" || err "${_xm}: !cd \"${srcdir}\""
+	cd "${srcdir}" || $err "${_xm}: !cd \"${srcdir}\""
 	fetch_trees
 	[ "${mode}" = "u-boot" ] || x_ mv src/docs docs
-	) || err "can't create release files"
+	) || $err "can't create release files"
 
 	git log --graph --pretty=format:'%Cred%h%Creset %s %Creset' \
 	    --abbrev-commit > "${srcdir}/CHANGELOG" || \
-	    err "build_release $srcdir: couldn't generate changelog"
+	    $err "build_release $srcdir: couldn't generate changelog"
 
 	(
 	if [ "${mode}" = "u-boot" ]; then
-		cd "${srcdir}/src/" || err "${_xm}: mktarball \"${srcdir}\""
+		cd "${srcdir}/src/" || $err "${_xm}: mktarball \"${srcdir}\""
 		mktarball u-boot "../../${srcdir##*/}.tar.xz" || \
-		    err "$_xm: mksrc"
+		    $err "$_xm: mksrc"
 		# make a src archive containing only u-boot
 	else
-		cd "${srcdir%/*}" || err "${_xm}: mktarball \"${srcdir}\""
+		cd "${srcdir%/*}" || $err "${_xm}: mktarball \"${srcdir}\""
 		mktarball "${srcdir##*/}" "${srcdir##*/}.tar.xz" || \
-		    err "$_xm: mksrc"
+		    $err "$_xm: mksrc"
 	fi
-	) || err "can't create src tarball"
+	) || $err "can't create src tarball"
 	[ "${mode}" = "src" ] && return 0
 	[ "${mode}" = "u-boot" ] && return 0
 
 	(
-	cd "${srcdir}" || err "${_xm}: 2 !cd \"${srcdir}\""
+	cd "${srcdir}" || $err "${_xm}: 2 !cd \"${srcdir}\""
 	mkrom_images
-	) || err "can't build rom images"
+	) || $err "can't build rom images"
 
-	rm -Rf "${srcdir}" || err "!rm -Rf ${srcdir}"
+	rm -Rf "${srcdir}" || $err "!rm -Rf ${srcdir}"
 }
 
 fetch_trees()
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ fetch_trees()
 	for x in config/git/*; do
 		[ "${mode}" = "u-boot" ] && break
 		[ ! -f "${x}" ] || ./update trees -f "${x#config/git/}" || \
-		    err "${_xm}: fetch ${x#config/git/}"
+		    $err "${_xm}: fetch ${x#config/git/}"
 	done
 	[ "${mode}" = "u-boot" ] && x_ ./update trees -f u-boot
 
@@ -93,54 +93,54 @@ fetch_trees()
 		[ -f "${x}" ] || continue
 		xp="${x#*/}"; xp="${xp%/*}"
 		[ -L "${xp}" ] || rm -Rf "src/${xp}/${xp}" || \
-		    err "!rm -Rf \"src/${xp}/${xp}\""
+		    $err "!rm -Rf \"src/${xp}/${xp}\""
 	done
 
-	find . -name ".git" -exec rm -Rf {} + || err "$_xm: rm .git"
-	find . -name ".gitmodules" -exec rm -Rf {} + || err "$_xm: rm .gitmod"
+	find . -name ".git" -exec rm -Rf {} + || $err "$_xm: rm .git"
+	find . -name ".gitmodules" -exec rm -Rf {} + || $err "$_xm: rm .gitmod"
 	x_ rm -Rf tmp .git
 }
 
 mkrom_images()
 {
-	./build roms all || err "${_xm}: roms-all"
-	./build serprog rp2040 || err "${_xm}: rp2040"
-	./build serprog stm32 || err "${_xm}: stm32"
+	./build roms all || $err "${_xm}: roms-all"
+	./build serprog rp2040 || $err "${_xm}: rp2040"
+	./build serprog stm32 || $err "${_xm}: stm32"
 
 	for rombuild in bin/*; do
 		[ -d "${rombuild}" ] || continue
 		handle_rom_archive "${rombuild}"
 	done
 
-	mv "release/${version}/roms/" ../roms || err "${_xm}: copy roms/"
+	mv "release/${version}/roms/" ../roms || $err "${_xm}: copy roms/"
 }
 
 handle_rom_archive()
 {
 	builddir="${1}"
 	romdir="tmp/romdir"
-	rm -Rf "${romdir}" || err "!rm romdir, handle_rom_archive"
+	rm -Rf "${romdir}" || $err "!rm romdir, handle_rom_archive"
 	target="${builddir##*/}"
 
 	if [ ! -f "config/coreboot/${target}/target.cfg" ]; then
 		# No config, just make a tarball
 		tarball="release/${version}/roms/${relname}_${target}.tar.xz"
 		insert_copying_files "${builddir}" || \
-		    err "!insert copy, handle, ${builddir}"
+		    $err "!insert copy, handle, ${builddir}"
 		mktarball "${builddir}" "${tarball}"
 		return 0
 	fi
 
 	romdir="${romdir}/bin/${target}"
-	mkdir -p "${romdir}" || err "!mkdir -p romdir, handle_rom_archive"
-	cp "$builddir/"* "$romdir" || err "!cp romdir, handle_rom_archive"
+	mkdir -p "${romdir}" || $err "!mkdir -p romdir, handle_rom_archive"
+	cp "$builddir/"* "$romdir" || $err "!cp romdir, handle_rom_archive"
 
 	printf "Generating release/%s/roms/%s-%s_%s.tar.xz\n" \
 	    "${version}" "${projectname}" "${version}" "${target##*/}"
 	insert_version_files "${romdir}" || \
-	    err "mkrom_tarball ${romdir}: versionfile"
+	    $err "mkrom_tarball ${romdir}: versionfile"
 
-	insert_copying_files "$romdir" || err "!insert copy, handle 2, $romdir"
+	insert_copying_files "$romdir" || $err "!insert copy, handle 2, $romdir"
 	mkrom_tarball
 }
 
@@ -165,13 +165,13 @@ mkrom_tarball()
 {
 	archivename="${relname}_${target##*/}"
 	f="release/${version}/roms/${archivename}"
-	mkdir -p "${f%/*}" || err "mkrom_tarball: !mkdir -p ${f%/*}"
+	mkdir -p "${f%/*}" || $err "mkrom_tarball: !mkdir -p ${f%/*}"
 	(
-	cd "${romdir%"/bin/$target"}" || err "!cd ${romdir%"/bin/$target"}"
+	cd "${romdir%"/bin/$target"}" || $err "!cd ${romdir%"/bin/$target"}"
 	mktarball "bin/${target}" "${archivename}.tar.xz"
-	) || err "can't create rom tarball"
+	) || $err "can't create rom tarball"
 	mv "${romdir%"/bin/${target}"}/${archivename}.tar.xz"* "${f%/*}" || \
-	    err "mktar ${f%/*}/${romdir%"/bin/$target"}/$archivename.tar.xz"
+	    $err "mktar ${f%/*}/${romdir%"/bin/$target"}/$archivename.tar.xz"
 
 	printf "Created ROM archive: %s" "${f%/*}/${archivename}.tar.xz"
 }
@@ -189,20 +189,20 @@ mktarball()
 	tar_implementation=$(tar --version | head -n1) || :
 
 	[ "${2%/*}" = "${2}" ] || \
-		mkdir -p "${2%/*}" || err "mk, !mkdir -p \"${2%/*}\""
+		mkdir -p "${2%/*}" || $err "mk, !mkdir -p \"${2%/*}\""
 	if [ "${tar_implementation% *}" = "tar (GNU tar)" ]; then
 		tar --sort=name --owner=root:0 --group=root:0 \
 		    --mtime="UTC 2023-11-06" -c "$1" | xz -T0 -9e > "$2" || \
-		    err "mktarball 1, ${1}"
+		    $err "mktarball 1, ${1}"
 	else
 		# TODO: reproducible tarballs on non-GNU systems
-		tar -c "$1" | xz -T0 -9e > "$2" || err "mktarball 2, $1"
+		tar -c "$1" | xz -T0 -9e > "$2" || $err "mktarball 2, $1"
 	fi
 	(
 	[ "${2%/*}" != "${2}" ] && x_ cd "${2%/*}"
 	sha512sum "${2##*/}" > "${2##*/}.sha512" || \
-	    err "!sha512sum \"${2##*/}\" > \"${2##*/}.sha512\""
-	) || err "failed to create tarball checksum"
+	    $err "!sha512sum \"${2##*/}\" > \"${2##*/}.sha512\""
+	) || $err "failed to create tarball checksum"
 }
 
 main $@
diff --git a/script/update/trees b/script/update/trees
index b0b58d6..a4d76ec 100755
--- a/script/update/trees
+++ b/script/update/trees
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ main()
 		-s) mode="savedefconfig" ;;
 		-l) mode="olddefconfig" ;;
 		-n) mode="nconfig" ;;
-		*) err "Invalid option" ;;
+		*) $err "Invalid option" ;;
 		esac
 		shift; project="${OPTARG#src/}"; shift
 	done
-	[ -z "$_f" ] && err "missing flag (-m/-u/-b/-c/-x/-f/-s/-l/-n)"
-	[ -z "$project" ] && err "project name not specified"
+	[ -z "$_f" ] && $err "missing flag (-m/-u/-b/-c/-x/-f/-s/-l/-n)"
+	[ -z "$project" ] && $err "project name not specified"
 	elfdir="elf/${project}"
 	cfgsdir="config/${project}"
 
@@ -66,17 +66,17 @@ build_targets()
 	[ "$elfdir" = "elf/coreboot" ] && \
 		elfdir="elf/coreboot_nopayload_DO_NOT_FLASH"
 
-	[ -d "$cfgsdir" ] || err "directory, $cfgsdir, does not exist"
+	[ -d "$cfgsdir" ] || $err "directory, $cfgsdir, does not exist"
 
 	listfile="${cfgsdir}/build.list"
-	[ -f "$listfile" ] || err "list file, $listfile, does not exist"
+	[ -f "$listfile" ] || $err "list file, $listfile, does not exist"
 
 	# Build for all targets if no argument is given
 	[ $# -gt 0 ] && target1="$1"
 	[ "$target1" = "utils" ] && [ "$project" = "coreboot" ] && \
 		shift 1
 	targets=$(items "$cfgsdir") || \
-	    err "Cannot get options for $cfgsdir"
+	    $err "Cannot get options for $cfgsdir"
 	[ $# -gt 0 ] && targets=$@
 
 	[ -z "$mode" ] && x_ mkdir -p "$elfdir"
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ handle_src_tree()
 
 	x_ mkdir -p "${elfdir}/${target}"
 
-	[ -z "$tree" ] && err "handle_src_tree $project/$tree: tree unset"
+	[ -z "$tree" ] && $err "handle_src_tree $project/$tree: tree unset"
 
 	codedir="src/${project}/${tree}"
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ load_project_config()
 
 	[ -f "${1}/target.cfg" ] || return 0
 	. "${1}/target.cfg" || \
-	    err "load_project_config ${1}: cannot load target.cfg"; return 0
+	    $err "load_project_config ${1}: cannot load target.cfg"; return 0
 }
 
 check_cross_compiler()
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ check_cross_compiler()
 
 check_config()
 {
-	[ -f "$config" ] || err "check_config: ${project}/${target}: no config"
+	[ -f "$config" ] || $err "check_config: ${project}/${target}: no config"
 
 	dest_dir="${elfdir}/${target}/${config_name}"
 	# TODO: very hacky check. do it properly (based on build.list)
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ handle_makefile()
 	[ -n "$mode" ] || make -C "$codedir" silentoldconfig || \
 	    make -C "$codedir" oldconfig || :
 
-	run_make_command || err "handle_makefile $codedir: no makefile!"
+	run_make_command || $err "handle_makefile $codedir: no makefile!"
 
 	if [ -e "${codedir}/.git" ] && [ "$project" = "u-boot" ] && \
 	    [ "$mode" = "distclean" ]; then
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ run_make_command()
 		printf "%s\n" "${version%%-*}" > "$codedir/.coreboot-version"
 
 	make $mode -j$(nproc) $makeargs -C "$codedir" || \
-	    err "run_make $codedir: !make $mode"
+	    $err "run_make $codedir: !make $mode"
 
 	[ "$mode" != "clean" ] && return 0
 	make -C "$codedir" distclean 2>/dev/null || :
@@ -229,9 +229,9 @@ check_cmake()
 		check_makefile "${1}" || \
 		    cmake -B "${1}" "${1}/${cmakedir}" || \
 		    check_makefile "${1}" || \
-		    err "check_cmake ${1}: can't cmake ${cmakedir}"
+		    $err "check_cmake ${1}: can't cmake ${cmakedir}"
 	[ -z "${cmakedir}" ] || check_makefile "${1}" || \
-		err "check_cmake ${1}: could not generate Makefile"
+		$err "check_cmake ${1}: could not generate Makefile"
 	return 0
 }
 
@@ -239,11 +239,11 @@ check_autoconf()
 {
 	(
 	_cfgopt=""
-	cd "${1}" || err "!cd $1"
+	cd "${1}" || $err "!cd $1"
 	[ -f "bootstrap" ] && x_ ./bootstrap $bootstrapargs
 	[ -f "autogen.sh" ] && x_ ./autogen.sh ${autogenargs}
 	[ -f "configure" ] && x_ ./configure $autoconfargs; return 0
-	) || err "can't bootstrap project: $1"
+	) || $err "can't bootstrap project: $1"
 }
 
 check_makefile()