diff --git a/sources/operators.F90 b/sources/operators.F90
index 19710ed..5446291 100644
--- a/sources/operators.F90
+++ b/sources/operators.F90
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ module operators
 !   Arguments:
 !
 !     verbose - flag determining if the subroutine should be verbose;
-!     iret    - return flag of the procedure execution status;
+!     status  - return flag of the procedure execution status;
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
-  subroutine initialize_operators(verbose, iret)
+  subroutine initialize_operators(verbose, status)
 
 ! local variables are not implicit by default
 !
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ module operators
 
 ! subroutine arguments
 !
-    logical, intent(in)    :: verbose
-    integer, intent(inout) :: iret
+    logical, intent(in)  :: verbose
+    integer, intent(out) :: status
 !
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
@@ -109,6 +109,10 @@ module operators
     call start_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */
 
+! reset the status flag
+!
+    status = 0
+
 #ifdef PROFILE
 ! stop accounting time for the module initialization/finalization
 !
@@ -128,11 +132,11 @@ module operators
 !
 !   Arguments:
 !
-!     iret    - return flag of the procedure execution status;
+!     status - return flag of the procedure execution status;
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
-  subroutine finalize_operators(iret)
+  subroutine finalize_operators(status)
 
 ! local variables are not implicit by default
 !
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ module operators
 
 ! subroutine arguments
 !
-    integer, intent(inout)    :: iret
+    integer, intent(out) :: status
 !
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
@@ -150,6 +154,10 @@ module operators
     call start_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */
 
+! reset the status flag
+!
+    status = 0
+
 #ifdef PROFILE
 ! stop accounting time for the module initialization/finalization
 !