diff --git a/build b/build
index 214cec30..38d1694c 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 $@ && lbmk_exit 0
+	[ "$1" = "dependencies" ] && x_ install_packages $@ && lbmk_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()
 # lbmk can be run from lbmk.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="lbmk <lbmk@libreboot.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()
 {
 	lbmkcmd="${buildpath}/${option}"
-	[ -f "${lbmkcmd}" ] || fail "Invalid command. Run: ${linkpath} help"
-	shift 1; "$lbmkcmd" $@ || fail "excmd: ${lbmkcmd} ${@}"
+	[ -f "${lbmkcmd}" ] || $err "Invalid command. Run: ${linkpath} help"
+	shift 1; "$lbmkcmd" $@ || $err "excmd: ${lbmkcmd} ${@}"
 }
 
 usage()
@@ -131,14 +132,14 @@ mkversion()
 
 lbmk_exit()
 {
-	tmp_cleanup || err "lbmk_exit: can't rm tmpdir upon exit $1: $tmpdir"
+	tmp_cleanup || err_ "lbmk_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 cab81d02..5b66c999 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 1fb8046d..5c456706 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"
 }
 
@@ -65,15 +65,15 @@ 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}"
 }
 
 clone_project()
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ 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"
 }
 
@@ -95,26 +95,26 @@ 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
 }
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ 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 "$_patches" ] && \
diff --git a/include/mrc.sh b/include/mrc.sh
index 32c68a83..901a3c3b 100755
--- a/include/mrc.sh
+++ b/include/mrc.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ extract_ref()
 	# but refcode is downloaded alongside mrc. in cases where lbmk
 	# erred, downloading only mrc, we must ensure downloading refcode
 	[ -n "$CONFIG_MRC_FILE" ] || \
-		err "extract_ref $board: CONFIG_MRC_FILE not defined"
+		$err "extract_ref $board: CONFIG_MRC_FILE not defined"
 
 	# the extract_mrc function actually downloads the refcode
 	fetch "mrc" "$MRC_url" "$MRC_url_bkup" "$MRC_hash" "$CONFIG_MRC_FILE"
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ extract_ref()
 
 extract_mrc()
 {
-	[ -z "$MRC_board" ] && err "extract_mrc $MRC_hash: MRC_board not set"
+	[ -z "$MRC_board" ] && $err "extract_mrc $MRC_hash: MRC_board not set"
 	[ -z "${CONFIG_MRC_FILE}" ] && \
-		err "extract_mrc $MRC_hash: CONFIG_MRC_FILE not set"
+		$err "extract_mrc $MRC_hash: CONFIG_MRC_FILE not set"
 
 	SHELLBALL="chromeos-firmwareupdate-${MRC_board}"
 
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ extract_mrc()
 	x_ cd "${appdir}"
 	extract_partition "${MRC_url##*/}"
 	extract_archive "${SHELLBALL}" .
-	) || err "mrc download/extract failure"
+	) || $err "mrc download/extract failure"
 
 	"${cbfstool}" "${appdir}/"bios.bin extract -n mrc.bin \
-	    -f "$_dest" -r RO_SECTION || err "extract_mrc: cbfstool $_dest"
+	    -f "$_dest" -r RO_SECTION || $err "extract_mrc: cbfstool $_dest"
 
 	[ -n "$CONFIG_REFCODE_BLOB_FILE" ] && extract_refcode; return 0
 }
@@ -51,10 +51,10 @@ extract_partition()
 
 	dd if="${1%.zip}" of="root-a.ext2" bs=1024 \
 	    skip=$(( ${START} / 1024 )) count=$(( ${SIZE} / 1024 )) || \
-	    err "extract_partition, dd ${1%.zip}, root-a.ext2"
+	    $err "extract_partition, dd ${1%.zip}, root-a.ext2"
 
 	printf "cd /usr/sbin\ndump chromeos-firmwareupdate ${SHELLBALL}\nquit" \
-	    | debugfs "root-a.ext2" || err "can't extract shellball"
+	    | debugfs "root-a.ext2" || $err "can't extract shellball"
 }
 
 extract_refcode()
@@ -66,16 +66,16 @@ extract_refcode()
 	# incompatible with older versions before coreboot 4.14,
 	# so we need coreboot 4.13 cbfstool for certain refcode files
 	[ -n "$cbfstoolref" ] || \
-		err "extract_refcode $board: MRC_refcode_cbtree not set"
+		$err "extract_refcode $board: MRC_refcode_cbtree not set"
 	mkdir -p "${_refdest%/*}" || \
-	    err "extract_refcode $board: !mkdir -p ${_refdest%/*}"
+	    $err "extract_refcode $board: !mkdir -p ${_refdest%/*}"
 
 	"$cbfstoolref" "$appdir/bios.bin" extract \
 	    -m x86 -n fallback/refcode -f "$_refdest" -r RO_SECTION \
-	    || err "extract_refcode $board: !cbfstoolref $_refdest"
+	    || $err "extract_refcode $board: !cbfstoolref $_refdest"
 
 	# enable the Intel GbE device, if told by offset MRC_refcode_gbe
 	[ -z "$MRC_refcode_gbe" ] || dd if="config/ifd/hp820g2/1.bin" \
 	    of="$_refdest" bs=1 seek=$MRC_refcode_gbe count=1 conv=notrunc || \
-	    err "extract_refcode $_refdest: byte $MRC_refcode_gbe"; return 0
+	    $err "extract_refcode $_refdest: byte $MRC_refcode_gbe"; return 0
 }
diff --git a/include/option.sh b/include/option.sh
index 2284fb0b..64442d15 100755
--- a/include/option.sh
+++ b/include/option.sh
@@ -43,10 +43,9 @@ scan_config()
 {
 	awkstr=" /\{.*${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
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ 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()
@@ -81,6 +80,6 @@ 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 9e7c69ee..a90e1daa 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 8b003add..ea2c02bf 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 $@
diff --git a/script/update/release b/script/update/release
index 357840c2..c4101b5a 100755
--- a/script/update/release
+++ b/script/update/release
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@ main()
 {
 	vdir="release"
 	while getopts d:m: option; do
-		[ -z "${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
 
@@ -93,56 +93,56 @@ 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"
 
 	nukerom
 
 	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
 }
 
@@ -152,18 +152,18 @@ nukerom()
 
 	# Hash the images before removing vendor files
 	# which "./vendor inject" uses for verification
-	rm -f "${romdir}/vendorhashes" || err "!rm ${romdir}/vendorhashes"
-	touch "${romdir}/vendorhashes" || err "!touch ${romdir}/vendorhashes"
+	rm -f "${romdir}/vendorhashes" || $err "!rm ${romdir}/vendorhashes"
+	touch "${romdir}/vendorhashes" || $err "!touch ${romdir}/vendorhashes"
 	(
-	cd "${romdir}" || err "!cd romdir ${romdir}, nukerom"
+	cd "${romdir}" || $err "!cd romdir ${romdir}, nukerom"
 	sha512sum ./*.rom >> vendorhashes || \
-	    err "!create vendorhashes, nukerom"
-	) || err "can't create vendor hashes"
+	    $err "!create vendorhashes, nukerom"
+	) || $err "can't create vendor hashes"
 
 	for romfile in "${romdir}"/*.rom; do
 		[ -f "${romfile}" ] || continue
 		./vendor inject -r "$romfile" -b "$target" -n nuke || \
-		    err "!vendor inject (nuke) ${romfile}, nukerom"
+		    $err "!vendor inject (nuke) ${romfile}, nukerom"
 	done
 }
 
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@ 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"
 }
@@ -212,20 +212,20 @@ 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 2024-02-25" -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 51ea821c..40ff1878 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"
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ 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}"
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ 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()
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ 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}/${config_name}"
 	# TODO: very hacky check. do it properly (based on build.list)
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ handle_makefile()
 	[ -n "$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" ] && \
 	    [ "$mode" = "distclean" ]; then
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ run_make_command()
 		printf "%s\n" "${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 || :
@@ -232,9 +232,9 @@ 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
 }
 
@@ -242,11 +242,11 @@ 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()
diff --git a/script/vendor/download b/script/vendor/download
index 42cb16ab..b40810cc 100755
--- a/script/vendor/download
+++ b/script/vendor/download
@@ -25,14 +25,14 @@ eval "$(setvars "" _b _dl EC_url EC_url_bkup EC_hash DL_hash DL_url DL_url_bkup
 
 main()
 {
-	[ $# -gt 0 ] || err "No argument given"
+	[ $# -gt 0 ] || $err "No argument given"
 	board="${1}"
 	boarddir="${cbcfgsdir}/${board}"
 	_b="${board%%_*mb}" # shorthand (no duplication per rom size)
 
 	check_defconfig "${boarddir}" && exit 0
 	detect_firmware && exit 0
-	scan_config "${_b}" "config/vendor" "err"
+	scan_config "${_b}" "config/vendor"
 
 	build_dependencies
 	download_vendorfiles
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ detect_firmware()
 	set -- "${boarddir}/config/"*
 	. "${1}" 2>/dev/null
 	. "${boarddir}/target.cfg" 2>/dev/null
-	[ -z "$tree" ] && err "detect_firmware $boarddir: tree undefined"
+	[ -z "$tree" ] && $err "detect_firmware $boarddir: tree undefined"
 	cbdir="src/coreboot/$tree"
 	cbfstool="cbutils/$tree/cbfstool"
 
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ fetch()
 	dl_bkup="${3}"
 	dlsum="${4}"
 	[ "${5}" = "/dev/null" ] && return 0
-	[ "${5# }" = "$5" ] || err "fetch: space not allowed in _dest: '$5'"
-	[ "${5#/}" = "$5" ] || err "fetch: absolute path not allowed: '$5'"
+	[ "${5# }" = "$5" ] || $err "fetch: space not allowed in _dest: '$5'"
+	[ "${5#/}" = "$5" ] || $err "fetch: absolute path not allowed: '$5'"
 	_dest="${5##*../}"
 	_dl="${vendir}/cache/${dlsum}"
 	dl_fail="n"
@@ -129,14 +129,14 @@ fetch()
 		vendor_checksum "${dlsum}" "${_dl}" || dl_fail="n"
 	done
 	[ "${dl_fail}" = "y" ] && \
-		err "fetch ${dlsum}: matched file unavailable"
+		$err "fetch ${dlsum}: matched file unavailable"
 
 	x_ rm -Rf "${_dl}_extracted"
 	mkdirs "${_dest}" "extract_${dl_type}" || return 0
 	eval "extract_${dl_type}"
 
 	[ -f "${_dest}" ] && return 0
-	err "extract_${dl_type} (fetch): missing file: '${_dest}'"
+	$err "extract_${dl_type} (fetch): missing file: '${_dest}'"
 }
 
 vendor_checksum()
@@ -152,17 +152,17 @@ mkdirs()
 		printf "mkdirs %s %s: already downloaded\n" "$1" "$2" 1>&2
 		return 1
 	fi
-	mkdir -p "${1%/*}" || err "mkdirs: !mkdir -p ${1%/*}"
+	mkdir -p "${1%/*}" || $err "mkdirs: !mkdir -p ${1%/*}"
 	remkdir "${appdir}"
 	extract_archive "${_dl}" "${appdir}" || \
 	    [ "${2}" = "extract_e6400vga" ] || \
-	    err "mkdirs ${1} ${2}: !extract"
+	    $err "mkdirs ${1} ${2}: !extract"
 }
 
 extract_intel_me()
 {
 	[ ! -f "$mecleaner" ] && \
-		err "extract_intel_me $cbdir: me_cleaner missing"
+		$err "extract_intel_me $cbdir: me_cleaner missing"
 
 	_me="${PWD}/${_dest}" # must always be an absolute path
 	cdir="${PWD}/${appdir}" # must always be an absolute path
@@ -170,10 +170,10 @@ extract_intel_me()
 	[ -f "${_me}" ] && return 0
 
 	sdir="$(mktemp -d)"
-	mkdir -p "$sdir" || err "extract_intel_me: !mkdir -p \"$sdir\""
+	mkdir -p "$sdir" || $err "extract_intel_me: !mkdir -p \"$sdir\""
 	(
 	[ "${cdir#/a}" != "$cdir" ] && cdir="${cdir#/}"
-	cd "$cdir" || err "extract_intel_me: !cd \"$cdir\""
+	cd "$cdir" || $err "extract_intel_me: !cd \"$cdir\""
 	for i in *; do
 		[ -f "$_me" ] && break
 		[ -L "$i" ] && continue
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ extract_intel_me()
 		cd "${cdir}" || :
 	done
 	)
-	rm -Rf "${sdir}" || err "extract_intel_me: !rm -Rf ${sdir}"
+	rm -Rf "${sdir}" || $err "extract_intel_me: !rm -Rf ${sdir}"
 }
 
 extract_archive()
@@ -207,44 +207,44 @@ extract_archive()
 extract_kbc1126ec()
 {
 	[ ! -f "$kbc1126_ec_dump" ] && \
-		err "extract_kbc1126ec $cbdir: kbc1126_ec_dump missing"
+		$err "extract_kbc1126ec $cbdir: kbc1126_ec_dump missing"
 	(
 	x_ cd "${appdir}/"
 	mv Rompaq/68*.BIN ec.bin || :
 	if [ ! -f ec.bin ]; then
 		unar -D ROM.CAB Rom.bin || unar -D Rom.CAB Rom.bin || \
-		    unar -D 68*.CAB Rom.bin || err "can't extract Rom.bin"
+		    unar -D 68*.CAB Rom.bin || $err "can't extract Rom.bin"
 		x_ mv Rom.bin ec.bin
 	fi
-	[ -f ec.bin ] || err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't extract"
+	[ -f ec.bin ] || $err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't extract"
 	"${kbc1126_ec_dump}" ec.bin || \
-	    err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't extract ecfw1/2.bin"
-	) || err "can't extract kbc1126 ec firmware"
+	    $err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't extract ecfw1/2.bin"
+	) || $err "can't extract kbc1126 ec firmware"
 	ec_ex="y"
 	for i in 1 2; do
 		[ -f "${appdir}/ec.bin.fw${i}" ] || ec_ex="n"
 	done
 	[ "${ec_ex}" = "y" ] || \
-	    err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: didn't extract ecfw1/2.bin"
+	    $err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: didn't extract ecfw1/2.bin"
 	cp "${appdir}/"ec.bin.fw* "${_dest%/*}/" || \
-	    err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't copy ec binaries"
+	    $err "extract_kbc1126_ec ${board}: can't copy ec binaries"
 }
 
 extract_e6400vga()
 {
 	for v in E6400_VGA_offset E6400_VGA_romname; do
-		eval "[ -z \"\$$v\" ] && err \"extract_e6400vga: $v undefined\""
+		eval "[ -z \"\$$v\" ] && $err \"extract_e6400vga: $v undefined\""
 	done
 	tail -c +$E6400_VGA_offset "$_dl" | gunzip > "$appdir/bios.bin" || :
 	(
 	x_ cd "${appdir}"
-	[ -f "bios.bin" ] || err "extract_e6400vga: can't extract bios.bin"
+	[ -f "bios.bin" ] || $err "extract_e6400vga: can't extract bios.bin"
 	"${e6400_unpack}" bios.bin || printf "TODO: fix dell extract util\n"
 	[ -f "${E6400_VGA_romname}" ] || \
-		err "extract_e6400vga: can't extract vga rom from bios.bin"
-	) || err "can't extract e6400 vga rom"
+		$err "extract_e6400vga: can't extract vga rom from bios.bin"
+	) || $err "can't extract e6400 vga rom"
 	cp "${appdir}/${E6400_VGA_romname}" "${_dest}" || \
-	    err "extract_e6400vga ${board}: can't copy vga rom to ${_dest}"
+	    $err "extract_e6400vga ${board}: can't copy vga rom to ${_dest}"
 }
 
 extract_sch5545ec()
@@ -258,9 +258,9 @@ extract_sch5545ec()
 
 	# this makes the file defined by _sch5545ec_fw available to copy
 	"${uefiextract}" "${_bios}" || \
-	    err "extract_sch5545ec: cannot extract from uefi image"
+	    $err "extract_sch5545ec: cannot extract from uefi image"
 	cp "${_sch5545ec_fw}" "${_dest}" || \
-	    err "extract_sch5545ec: cannot copy sch5545ec firmware file"
+	    $err "extract_sch5545ec: cannot copy sch5545ec firmware file"
 }
 
 main $@
diff --git a/script/vendor/inject b/script/vendor/inject
index 4ac2753f..dc12d7b5 100755
--- a/script/vendor/inject
+++ b/script/vendor/inject
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ eval "$(setvars "" archive rom modifygbe nukemode release new_mac tree)"
 
 main()
 {
-	[ $# -lt 1 ] && err "No options specified."
+	[ $# -lt 1 ] && $err "No options specified."
 	[ "${1}" = "listboards" ] && eval "items config/coreboot || :; exit 0"
 
 	archive="${1}"
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ check_board()
 	failcheck="n"
 	check_release "${archive}" || failcheck="y"
 	if [ "${failcheck}" = "y" ]; then
-		[ -f "$rom" ] || err "check_board \"$rom\": invalid path"
-		[ -z "${rom+x}" ] && err "check_board: no rom specified"
+		[ -f "$rom" ] || $err "check_board \"$rom\": invalid path"
+		[ -z "${rom+x}" ] && $err "check_board: no rom specified"
 		[ -n "${board+x}" ] || board=$(detect_board "${rom}")
 	else
 		release="y"
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ check_board()
 	fi
 
 	boarddir="${cbcfgsdir}/${board}"
-	[ -d "$boarddir" ] || err "check_board: board $board missing"
+	[ -d "$boarddir" ] || $err "check_board: board $board missing"
 	[ -f "$boarddir/target.cfg" ] || \
-		err "check_board $board: target.cfg missing"
+		$err "check_board $board: target.cfg missing"
 	. "$boarddir/target.cfg" 2>/dev/null
-	[ -z "$tree" ] && err "check_board $board: tree undefined"; return 0
+	[ -z "$tree" ] && $err "check_board $board: tree undefined"; return 0
 }
 
 check_release()
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ detect_board()
 		_stripped_prefix=${filename#*_}
 		board="${_stripped_prefix%.tar.xz}" ;;
 	*)
-		err "detect_board $filename: could not detect board type"
+		$err "detect_board $filename: could not detect board type"
 	esac	
 	printf "%s\n" "${board}"
 }
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ patch_release_roms()
 	_tmpdir="tmp/romdir"
 	remkdir "${_tmpdir}"
 	tar -xf "${archive}" -C "${_tmpdir}" || \
-	    err "patch_release_roms: !tar -xf \"$archive\" -C \"$_tmpdir\""
+	    $err "patch_release_roms: !tar -xf \"$archive\" -C \"$_tmpdir\""
 
 	for x in "${_tmpdir}"/bin/*/*.rom ; do
 		printf "patching rom: %s\n" "$x"
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ patch_release_roms()
 
 	(
 	cd "${_tmpdir}/bin/"* || \
-	    err "patch_release_roms: !cd ${_tmpdir}/bin/*"
+	    $err "patch_release_roms: !cd ${_tmpdir}/bin/*"
 
 	# NOTE: For compatibility with older rom releases, defer to sha1
 	[ "${nukemode}" = "nuke" ] || sha512sum --status -c vendorhashes || \
 	    sha1sum --status -c vendorhashes || sha512sum --status -c \
 	    blobhashes || sha1sum --status -c blobhashes || \
-	    err "patch_release_roms: ROMs did not match expected hashes"
-	) || err "can't verify vendor hashes"
+	    $err "patch_release_roms: ROMs did not match expected hashes"
+	) || $err "can't verify vendor hashes"
 
 	[ "${modifygbe}" = "true" ] && \
 		for x in "${_tmpdir}"/bin/*/*.rom ; do
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ patch_rom()
 {
 	rom="${1}"
 
-	check_defconfig "$boarddir" && err "patch_rom $boarddir: no configs"
+	check_defconfig "$boarddir" && $err "patch_rom $boarddir: no configs"
 
 	set -- "${boarddir}/config/"*
 	. "${1}" 2>/dev/null
@@ -174,18 +174,18 @@ patch_rom()
 inject()
 {
 	[ $# -lt 3 ] && \
-		err "inject $@, $rom: usage: inject name path type (offset)"
+		$err "inject $@, $rom: usage: inject name path type (offset)"
 
 	eval "$(setvars "" cbfsname _dest _t _offset)"
 	cbfsname="${1}"
 	_dest="${2##*../}"
 	_t="${3}"
 	[ $# -gt 3 ] && _offset="-b ${4}" && [ -z "${4}" ] && \
-	    err "inject $@, $rom: offset passed, but empty (not defined)"
+	    $err "inject $@, $rom: offset passed, but empty (not defined)"
 
-	[ -z "${_dest}" ] && err "inject $@, ${rom}: empty destination path"
+	[ -z "${_dest}" ] && $err "inject $@, ${rom}: empty destination path"
 	[ ! -f "${_dest}" ] && [ "${nukemode}" != "nuke" ] && \
-		err "inject_${dl_type}: file missing, ${_dest}"
+		$err "inject_${dl_type}: file missing, ${_dest}"
 
 	[ "$nukemode" = "nuke" ] || \
 		printf "Inserting %s/%s in file: %s\n" "$cbfsname" "$_t" "$rom"
@@ -193,18 +193,18 @@ inject()
 	if [ "${_t}" = "GbE" ]; then
 		x_ mkdir -p tmp
 		cp "${_dest}" "tmp/gbe.bin" || \
-		    err "inject: !cp \"${_dest}\" \"tmp/gbe.bin\""
+		    $err "inject: !cp \"${_dest}\" \"tmp/gbe.bin\""
 		_dest="tmp/gbe.bin"
 		"${nvmutil}" "${_dest}" setmac "${new_mac}" || \
-		    err "inject ${_dest}: can't change mac address"
+		    $err "inject ${_dest}: can't change mac address"
 	fi
 	if [ "${cbfsname}" = "IFD" ]; then
 		if [ "${nukemode}" != "nuke" ]; then
 			"$ifdtool" -i ${_t}:${_dest} "$rom" -O "$rom" || \
-			    err "inject: can't insert $_t ($dest) into $rom"
+			    $err "inject: can't insert $_t ($dest) into $rom"
 		else
 			"$ifdtool" --nuke $_t "$rom" -O "$rom" || \
-			    err "inject $rom: can't nuke $_t in IFD"
+			    $err "inject $rom: can't nuke $_t in IFD"
 		fi
 	else
 		if [ "${nukemode}" != "nuke" ]; then
@@ -214,11 +214,11 @@ inject()
 			else
 				"$cbfstool" "$rom" add -f "$_dest" \
 				    -n "$cbfsname" -t $_t $_offset || \
-				    err "$rom: can't insert $_t file $_dest"
+				    $err "$rom: can't insert $_t file $_dest"
 			fi
 		else
 			"$cbfstool" "$rom" remove -n "$cbfsname" || \
-			    err "inject $rom: can't remove $cbfsname"
+			    $err "inject $rom: can't remove $cbfsname"
 		fi
 	fi
 }