diff --git a/src/conf.c b/src/conf.c
index abe53154..1d508ace 100644
--- a/src/conf.c
+++ b/src/conf.c
@@ -1109,6 +1109,7 @@ int conf_set_string(char *section, char *key, char *value, int verify) {
     err=_conf_verify_element(section,key,value);
     if(err != CONF_E_SUCCESS) {
         util_mutex_unlock(l_conf);
+        DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_CONF,"Couldn't validate %s = %s\n",key,value);
         return err;
     }
 
@@ -1276,18 +1277,19 @@ int conf_write(void) {
  * @param fp file we are writing the config file to
  * @param pll list we are dumping k/v pairs for
  * @param sublevel whether this is the root, or a subkey
- * @returns TRUE on success, FALSE otherwise
+ * @returns CONF_E_SUCCESS on success, failure code otherwise
  */
 int _conf_write(IOHANDLE hfile, LL *pll, int sublevel, char *parent) {
     LL_ITEM *pli;
     LL_ITEM *ppre, *pin;
     LL_ITEM *plitemp;
     int first;
+    int err;
 
     char keybuffer[256];
 
     if(!pll)
-        return TRUE;
+        return CONF_E_SUCCESS; /* ?? */
 
     /* write all the solo keys, first! */
     pli = pll->itemlist.next;
@@ -1330,9 +1332,9 @@ int _conf_write(IOHANDLE hfile, LL *pll, int sublevel, char *parent) {
                 }
                 io_printf(hfile,"\n");
 
-                if(!_conf_write(hfile, pli->value.as_ll, 1, pli->key)) {
+                if((err =_conf_write(hfile, pli->value.as_ll, 1, pli->key)) != CONF_E_SUCCESS) {
                     DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_CONF,"Error writing key %s:%s\n",pli->key);
-                    return FALSE;
+                    return err;
                 }
             }
             break;
@@ -1364,7 +1366,7 @@ int _conf_write(IOHANDLE hfile, LL *pll, int sublevel, char *parent) {
         }
     }
 
-    return TRUE;
+    return CONF_E_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index b1ddeefa..05d3514b 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         configfile="mt-daapd.conf";
     }
 
-    if(conf_read(configfile) != CONF_E_SUCCESS) {
+    if(CONF_E_SUCCESS != conf_read(configfile)) {
         fprintf(stderr,"Error reading config file (%s)\n",configfile);
         exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
     }
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
     if(convert_conf) {
         fprintf(stderr,"Converting config file...\n");
-        if(!conf_write()) {
+        if(CONF_E_SUCCESS != conf_write()) {
             fprintf(stderr,"Error writing config file.\n");
             exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
         }
diff --git a/src/xml-rpc.c b/src/xml-rpc.c
index 2b04785a..41061ac4 100644
--- a/src/xml-rpc.c
+++ b/src/xml-rpc.c
@@ -139,8 +139,10 @@ void xml_update_config(WS_CONNINFO *pwsc) {
             *ptmp++ = '\0';
             /* this is stupidly inefficient */
 
+            DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_XML,"Setting %s/%s to %s\n",duparg,ptmp,value);
             err = conf_set_string(duparg,ptmp,value,TRUE);
             if(err != CONF_E_SUCCESS) {
+                DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_XML,"Error setting %s/%s\n",duparg,ptmp);
                 has_error = TRUE;
                 if(!badparms) {
                     badparms_len = (int)strlen(arg) + 1;
@@ -170,6 +172,8 @@ void xml_update_config(WS_CONNINFO *pwsc) {
         return;
     }
 
+    handle = NULL;
+
     /* now set! */
     while((handle=ws_enum_var(pwsc,&arg,&value,handle)) != NULL) {
         /* arg will be section:value */
@@ -179,9 +183,11 @@ void xml_update_config(WS_CONNINFO *pwsc) {
             *ptmp++ = '\0';
             /* this is stupidly inefficient */
 
+            DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_XML,"Setting %s/%s to %s\n",duparg,ptmp,value);
             err = conf_set_string(duparg,ptmp,value,FALSE);
             if(err != CONF_E_SUCCESS) {
                 /* shouldn't happen */
+                DPRINTF(E_DBG,L_XML,"Error setting %s/%s\n",duparg,ptmp);
                 xml_return_error(pwsc,500,arg);
                 return;
             }