diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index bdad1a010..c36cdbf9f 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.46 - 
 ================================
+  Always return exit error status when locking of volume group fails.
   Fix mirror log convert validation question.
   Avoid referencing files from DESTDIR during build process.
   Avoid creating some static libraries without static_link.
diff --git a/tools/toollib.c b/tools/toollib.c
index 0bc3e40da..8a3065ba1 100644
--- a/tools/toollib.c
+++ b/tools/toollib.c
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ int process_each_lv(struct cmd_context *cmd, int argc, char **argv,
 			continue;	/* FIXME Unnecessary? */
 		if (!lock_vol(cmd, vgname, lock_type)) {
 			log_error("Can't lock %s: skipping", vgname);
+			ret_max = ECMD_FAILED;
 			continue;
 		}
 		if (lock_type & LCK_WRITE)
@@ -442,7 +443,7 @@ static int _process_one_vg(struct cmd_context *cmd, const char *vg_name,
 
 	if (!lock_vol(cmd, vg_name, lock_type)) {
 		log_error("Can't lock volume group %s: skipping", vg_name);
-		return ret_max;
+		return ECMD_FAILED;
 	}
 
 	log_verbose("Finding volume group \"%s\"", vg_name);
@@ -745,6 +746,7 @@ int process_each_pv(struct cmd_context *cmd, int argc, char **argv,
 			dm_list_iterate_items(sll, vgnames) {
 				if (!lock_vol(cmd, sll->str, lock_type)) {
 					log_error("Can't lock %s: skipping", sll->str);
+					ret_max = ECMD_FAILED;
 					continue;
 				}
 				if (!(vg = vg_read_internal(cmd, sll->str, NULL, &consistent))) {