diff --git a/console/tidy.c b/console/tidy.c
index 3a3d9ad8..45d51439 100644
--- a/console/tidy.c
+++ b/console/tidy.c
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ static FILE* errout = NULL;
  ** @{
  */
 
+/** Fatal error count - like bad option, no files, etc - Exit -1 */
+static uint errorCount = 0; /* Is. #921 */
 
 /* MARK: - Miscellaneous Utilities */
 /***************************************************************************//**
@@ -2123,6 +2125,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
         if ( status != 0 ) {
             fprintf(errout, tidyLocalizedString( TC_MAIN_ERROR_LOAD_CONFIG ), TIDY_CONFIG_FILE, status);
             fprintf(errout, "\n");
+            errorCount++; /* Is. #921 - config file failed */
         }
     }
 #endif /* TIDY_CONFIG_FILE */
@@ -2133,6 +2136,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
         if ( status != 0 ) {
             fprintf(errout, tidyLocalizedString( TC_MAIN_ERROR_LOAD_CONFIG ), cfgfil, status);
             fprintf(errout, "\n");
+            errorCount++; /* Is. #921 - config file failed */
         }
     }
 #ifdef TIDY_USER_CONFIG_FILE
@@ -2142,6 +2146,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
         if ( status != 0 ) {
             fprintf(errout, tidyLocalizedString( TC_MAIN_ERROR_LOAD_CONFIG ), TIDY_USER_CONFIG_FILE, status);
             fprintf(errout, "\n");
+            errorCount++; /* Is. #921 - config file failed */
         }
     }
 #endif /* TIDY_USER_CONFIG_FILE */
@@ -2479,6 +2484,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
 
                             default:
                                 unknownOption( tdoc, c );
+                                errorCount++; /* Is. #921 - option error */
                                 break;
                         }
                     }
@@ -2506,6 +2512,8 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
             if ( tidyOptGetBool(tdoc, TidyEmacs) || tidyOptGetBool(tdoc, TidyShowFilename))
                 tidySetEmacsFile( tdoc, htmlfil );
             status = tidyParseFile( tdoc, htmlfil );
+            if (status < 0) /* Is. #921 - input file failed */
+                errorCount++;
         }
         else
         {
@@ -2547,6 +2555,7 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
         contentErrors   += tidyErrorCount( tdoc );
         contentWarnings += tidyWarningCount( tdoc );
         accessWarnings  += tidyAccessWarningCount( tdoc );
+        errorCount      += tidyConfigErrorCount( tdoc); /* Is. #921 - config error are fatal */
         
         --argc;
         ++argv;
@@ -2568,8 +2577,16 @@ int main( int argc, char** argv )
 
     /* called to free hash tables etc. */
     tidyRelease( tdoc );
-    
+
     /* return status can be used by scripts */
+
+    /* Is. #921 - one, or more fatal errors */
+    /* this can be many forms, from file does not exit, to an unknown option,
+     *  or malformed option, etc ...
+     */
+    if (errorCount > 0)   
+        return 3; /* Is. #921 */
+
     if ( contentErrors > 0 )
         return 2;
     
diff --git a/src/config.c b/src/config.c
index bae56b8f..3dd22a00 100644
--- a/src/config.c
+++ b/src/config.c
@@ -1581,7 +1581,10 @@ Bool ParsePickList( TidyDocImpl* doc, const TidyOptionImpl* entry )
         return yes;
     }
   
-    TY_(ReportBadArgument)( doc, entry->name );
+    /* Is. #921 - this service calls 'GetParsePickListValue', which already emits
+     *  'ReportBadArgument' if it fails, so eliminate this duplicate call
+     * TY_(ReportBadArgument)( doc, entry->name );
+     */
     return no;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/message.c b/src/message.c
index 8f6b1fb2..c14dbba0 100644
--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ static void messageOut( TidyMessageImpl *message )
         go = go && message->code != STRING_CONTENT_LOOKS;
         go = go && message->code != STRING_NO_SYSID;
         go = go && message->level != TidyDialogueInfo;
-        go = go && message->level != TidyConfig;
+        /* go = go && message->level != TidyConfig; Is. #921 - these are errors, not informational! */
         go = go && message->level != TidyInfo;
         go = go && !(message->level >= TidyDialogueSummary &&
                             message->code != STRING_NEEDS_INTERVENTION);