1 files changed, 7 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
index 4b18da3524d..587b129cb92 100644
--- a/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
+++ b/lisp/mail/sendmail.el
@@ -1168,8 +1168,13 @@ external program defined by `sendmail-program'."
                               )
                       )
                      (exit-value (apply 'call-process-region args)))
-                (or (null exit-value) (eq 0 exit-value)
-                    (error "Sending...failed with exit value %d" exit-value)))
+                (cond ((or (null exit-value) (eq 0 exit-value)))
+                      ((numberp exit-value)
+                       (error "Sending...failed with exit value %d" exit-value))
+                      ((stringp exit-value)
+                       (error "Sending...terminated by signal: %s" exit-value))
+                      (t
+                       (error "SENDMAIL-SEND-IT -- fall through: %S" exit-value))))
             (or fcc-was-found
                 (error "No recipients")))
           (if mail-interactive