diff --git a/sources/driver.F90 b/sources/driver.F90
index 41c8902..4c2bf20 100644
--- a/sources/driver.F90
+++ b/sources/driver.F90
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ program amun
 
 ! performe one step evolution
 !
-    call advance(dtnext)
+    call advance(dtnext, iret)
 
 ! advance the iteration number and time
 !
diff --git a/sources/evolution.F90 b/sources/evolution.F90
index 65fee1f..e1004a6 100644
--- a/sources/evolution.F90
+++ b/sources/evolution.F90
@@ -403,20 +403,18 @@ module evolution
 !
 !   Arguments:
 !
-!     dtnext - next time step;
+!     dtnext - the next time step;
+!     status - the subroutine call status: 0 for success, otherwise failure;
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
-  subroutine advance(dtnext)
+  subroutine advance(dtnext, status)
 
-! include external procedures
+! references
 !
-    use blocks        , only : set_blocks_update
-    use mesh          , only : update_mesh
-
-! include external variables
-!
-    use coordinates   , only : toplev
+    use blocks     , only : set_blocks_update
+    use coordinates, only : toplev
+    use mesh       , only : update_mesh
 
 ! local variables are not implicit by default
 !
@@ -424,11 +422,8 @@ module evolution
 
 ! input variables
 !
-    real(kind=8), intent(in) :: dtnext
-
-! local variables
-!
-    integer :: status
+    real(kind=8), intent(in)  :: dtnext
+    integer     , intent(out) :: status
 !
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
@@ -457,6 +452,7 @@ module evolution
 ! check refinement and refine
 !
       call update_mesh(status)
+      if (status /= 0) go to 100
 
 ! update primitive variables
 !
@@ -474,6 +470,10 @@ module evolution
     call check_variables()
 #endif /* DEBUG */
 
+! error entry point
+!
+    100 continue
+
 #ifdef PROFILE
 ! stop accounting time for solution advance
 !