diff --git a/local.c b/local.c
index f81c35d..ef4f66b 100644
--- a/local.c
+++ b/local.c
@@ -528,7 +528,10 @@ LCL_ApplyStepOffset(double offset)
   if (!check_offset(&raw, offset))
       return 0;
 
-  (*drv_apply_step_offset)(offset);
+  if (!(*drv_apply_step_offset)(offset)) {
+    LOG(LOGS_ERR, LOGF_Local, "Could not step clock");
+    return 0;
+  }
 
   /* Reset smoothing on all clock steps */
   SMT_Reset(&cooked);
diff --git a/localp.h b/localp.h
index 321985e..5f99309 100644
--- a/localp.h
+++ b/localp.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ typedef void (*lcl_AccrueOffsetDriver)(double offset, double corr_rate);
 
 /* System driver to apply a step offset. A positive argument means step
    the clock forwards. */
-typedef void (*lcl_ApplyStepOffsetDriver)(double offset);
+typedef int (*lcl_ApplyStepOffsetDriver)(double offset);
 
 /* System driver to convert a raw time to an adjusted (cooked) time.
    The number of seconds returned in 'corr' have to be added to the
diff --git a/sys_generic.c b/sys_generic.c
index 44cb251..41e36ff 100644
--- a/sys_generic.c
+++ b/sys_generic.c
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ offset_convert(struct timeval *raw,
 /* ================================================== */
 /* Positive means currently fast of true time, i.e. jump backwards */
 
-static void
+static int
 apply_step_offset(double offset)
 {
   struct timeval old_time, new_time;
@@ -260,13 +260,16 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&old_time, -offset, &new_time);
 
   if (settimeofday(&new_time, NULL) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_SysGeneric, "settimeofday() failed");
+    DEBUG_LOG(LOGF_SysGeneric, "settimeofday() failed");
+    return 0;
   }
 
   LCL_ReadRawTime(&old_time);
   UTI_DiffTimevalsToDouble(&err, &old_time, &new_time);
 
   lcl_InvokeDispersionNotifyHandlers(fabs(err));
+
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */
diff --git a/sys_linux.c b/sys_linux.c
index d57dde3..e5ca9a6 100644
--- a/sys_linux.c
+++ b/sys_linux.c
@@ -100,12 +100,15 @@ our_round(double x)
 /* ================================================== */
 /* Positive means currently fast of true time, i.e. jump backwards */
 
-static void
+static int
 apply_step_offset(double offset)
 {
   if (TMX_ApplyStepOffset(-offset) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_SysLinux, "adjtimex() failed");
+    DEBUG_LOG(LOGF_SysLinux, "adjtimex() failed");
+    return 0;
   }
+
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */
diff --git a/sys_netbsd.c b/sys_netbsd.c
index c54de3f..237f35f 100644
--- a/sys_netbsd.c
+++ b/sys_netbsd.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ accrue_offset(double offset, double corr_rate)
 /* Positive offset means system clock is fast of true time, therefore
    step backwards */
 
-static void
+static int
 apply_step_offset(double offset)
 {
   struct timeval old_time, new_time, T1;
@@ -226,7 +226,8 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&old_time, -offset, &new_time);
 
   if (settimeofday(&new_time, NULL) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_SysNetBSD, "settimeofday() failed");
+    DEBUG_LOG(LOGF_SysNetBSD, "settimeofday() failed");
+    return 0;
   }
 
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&T0, offset, &T1);
@@ -234,6 +235,7 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
 
   start_adjust();
 
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */
diff --git a/sys_solaris.c b/sys_solaris.c
index 2802a90..fe8b63a 100644
--- a/sys_solaris.c
+++ b/sys_solaris.c
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ accrue_offset(double offset, double corr_rate)
 /* Positive offset means system clock is fast of true time, therefore
    step backwards */
 
-static void
+static int
 apply_step_offset(double offset)
 {
   struct timeval old_time, new_time, rounded_new_time, T1;
@@ -248,7 +248,8 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
   UTI_DiffTimevalsToDouble(&rounding_error, &rounded_new_time, &new_time);
 
   if (settimeofday(&new_time, NULL) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_SysSolaris, "settimeofday() failed");
+    DEBUG_LOG(LOGF_SysSolaris, "settimeofday() failed");
+    return 0;
   }
 
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&T0, offset, &T1);
@@ -257,6 +258,8 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
   offset_register += rounding_error;
 
   start_adjust();
+
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */
diff --git a/sys_sunos.c b/sys_sunos.c
index 9231dca..7d0737e 100644
--- a/sys_sunos.c
+++ b/sys_sunos.c
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ accrue_offset(double offset, double corr_rate)
 /* Positive offset means system clock is fast of true time, therefore
    step backwards */
 
-static void
+static int
 apply_step_offset(double offset)
 {
   struct timeval old_time, new_time, T1;
@@ -236,7 +236,8 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&old_time, -offset, &new_time);
 
   if (settimeofday(&new_time, NULL) < 0) {
-    LOG_FATAL(LOGF_SysSunOS, "settimeofday() failed");
+    DEBUG_LOG(LOGF_SysSunOS, "settimeofday() failed");
+    return 0;
   }
 
   UTI_AddDoubleToTimeval(&T0, offset, &T1);
@@ -244,6 +245,7 @@ apply_step_offset(double offset)
 
   start_adjust();
 
+  return 1;
 }
 
 /* ================================================== */