diff --git a/acme.sh b/acme.sh
index 5c093e4c..23bc4f6b 100755
--- a/acme.sh
+++ b/acme.sh
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ __red() {
 }
 
 _printargs() {
+  _exitstatus="$?"
   if [ -z "$NO_TIMESTAMP" ] || [ "$NO_TIMESTAMP" = "0" ]; then
     printf -- "%s" "[$(date)] "
   fi
@@ -148,6 +149,8 @@ _printargs() {
     printf -- "%s" "$1='$2'"
   fi
   printf "\n"
+  # return the saved exit status 
+  return "$_exitstatus"
 }
 
 _dlg_versions() {
@@ -183,6 +186,7 @@ _dlg_versions() {
 
 #class
 _syslog() {
+  _exitstatus="$?"
   if [ "${SYS_LOG:-$SYSLOG_LEVEL_NONE}" = "$SYSLOG_LEVEL_NONE" ]; then
     return
   fi
@@ -196,6 +200,7 @@ _syslog() {
     fi
   fi
   $__logger_i -t "$PROJECT_NAME" -p "$_logclass" "$(_printargs "$@")" >/dev/null 2>&1
+  return "$_exitstatus"
 }
 
 _log() {