diff --git a/vlib/net/unix/stream_nix.v b/vlib/net/unix/stream_nix.v
index 450f1fe46e..e73acb7b8a 100644
--- a/vlib/net/unix/stream_nix.v
+++ b/vlib/net/unix/stream_nix.v
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ pub fn listen_stream(sock string) ?&StreamListener {
 		os.rm(sock) ?
 	}
 	net.socket_error(C.bind(s.handle, voidptr(&addr), size)) ?
-	os.chmod(sock, 0o777)
+	os.chmod(sock, 0o777) ?
 	net.socket_error(C.listen(s.handle, 128)) ?
 	return &StreamListener{
 		sock: s
diff --git a/vlib/os/os.c.v b/vlib/os/os.c.v
index 4416543016..e6024a13d9 100644
--- a/vlib/os/os.c.v
+++ b/vlib/os/os.c.v
@@ -886,9 +886,9 @@ pub fn flush() {
 
 // chmod change file access attributes of `path` to `mode`.
 // Octals like `0o600` can be used.
-pub fn chmod(path string, mode int) {
+pub fn chmod(path string, mode int)? {
 	if C.chmod(&char(path.str), mode) != 0 {
-		panic('chmod failed: ' + posix_get_error_msg(C.errno))
+		return error_with_code('chmod failed: ' + posix_get_error_msg(C.errno), C.errno)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/cc.v b/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
index 214f73bce9..de05059f07 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/cc.v
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ fn (mut b Builder) ensure_linuxroot_exists(sysroot string) {
 		if !os.exists(sysroot_git_config_path) {
 			verror('Failed to clone `$crossrepo_url` to `$sysroot`')
 		}
-		os.chmod(os.join_path(sysroot, 'ld.lld'), 0o755)
+		os.chmod(os.join_path(sysroot, 'ld.lld'), 0o755) or { panic(err) }
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/native/gen.v b/vlib/v/gen/native/gen.v
index c8bb5c3c48..f24a92c9f1 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/native/gen.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/native/gen.v
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ pub fn (mut g Gen) generate_header() {
 pub fn (mut g Gen) create_executable() {
 	// Create the binary // should be .o ?
 	os.write_file_array(g.out_name, g.buf) or { panic(err) }
-	os.chmod(g.out_name, 0o775) // make it executable
+	os.chmod(g.out_name, 0o775) or { panic(err) } // make it executable
 	if g.pref.is_verbose {
 		println('\n$g.out_name: native binary has been successfully generated')
 	}
diff --git a/vlib/v/vcache/vcache.v b/vlib/v/vcache/vcache.v
index cb26db8289..02faf833b1 100644
--- a/vlib/v/vcache/vcache.v
+++ b/vlib/v/vcache/vcache.v
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ pub fn (mut cm CacheManager) key2cpath(key string) string {
 		cpath = os.join_path(cprefix_folder, khash)
 		if !os.is_dir(cprefix_folder) {
 			os.mkdir_all(cprefix_folder) or { panic(err) }
-			os.chmod(cprefix_folder, 0o777)
+			os.chmod(cprefix_folder, 0o777) or { panic(err) }
 		}
 		dlog(@FN, 'new hk')
 		dlog(@FN, '       key: $key')