Return code from system function.

Hi, I'm running Informix 7.32 on Windows NT server 4.0, and within a SP I'm executing a system command - but how do I return the return code to my calling application. I've tried the ON EXCEPTION and it didn't work e.g. CREATE PROCEDURE dummy(p_file char(35)) <defines removed> on exception set sql_err, isam_err, err_info return 1; end exception; system "c:\\bin\\runme.exe" return 0; END PROCEDURE; The command executes fine and returns a non-zero on error, but the SP never gets the exception and hence always returns 0 to me. Is this the right way to do this, or should I go about it differently. TIA. Ray.