diff --git a/src/core/c-error.c b/src/core/c-error.c
index 0d9d0d7dfb..1b1873b142 100644
--- a/src/core/c-error.c
+++ b/src/core/c-error.c
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ static REBOL_STATE Top_State; // Boot var: holds error state during boot
 	val = Get_Object(spec, STD_PORT_SPEC_HEAD_REF); // most informative
 	if (IS_NONE(val)) val = Get_Object(spec, STD_PORT_SPEC_HEAD_TITLE);
 
-	DS_PUSH_INTEGER(err_code);
+	DS_PUSH_INTEGER(-err_code);
 	Trap2(errnum, val, DS_TOP);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/n-io.c b/src/core/n-io.c
index 961c205f3d..bba40062fe 100644
--- a/src/core/n-io.c
+++ b/src/core/n-io.c
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ static REBSER *Read_All_File(char *fname)
 	REBVAL *arg = D_ARG(1);
 	REBSER *ser;
 	REBINT n;
-	REBVAL val, reason;
+	REBVAL val;
 
 	ser = Value_To_OS_Path(arg, TRUE);
 	// it should be safe not to check result from Value_To_OS_Path (it always succeeds)
@@ -609,8 +609,8 @@ static REBSER *Read_All_File(char *fname)
 	SET_FILE(arg, ser);
 
 	if (NZ(n)) {
-		SET_INTEGER(&reason, n);
-		Trap2(RE_CANNOT_OPEN, arg, &reason);
+		SET_INTEGER(D_RET, -n);
+		Trap2(RE_CANNOT_OPEN, arg, D_RET);
 	}
 	return R_ARG1;
 }