diff --git a/sources/problems.F90 b/sources/problems.F90
index f1a6791..3bba713 100644
--- a/sources/problems.F90
+++ b/sources/problems.F90
@@ -95,16 +95,16 @@ module problems
 !
 !     problem - the problem name
 !     verbose - a logical flag turning the information printing;
-!     iret    - an integer flag for error return value;
+!     status  - an integer flag for error return value;
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
-  subroutine initialize_problems(problem, verbose, iret)
+  subroutine initialize_problems(problem, verbose, status)
 
 ! include external procedures and variables
 !
-    use parameters     , only : get_parameter
-    use user_problem   , only : setup_problem_user
+    use parameters  , only : get_parameter
+    use user_problem, only : setup_problem_user
 
 ! local variables are not implicit by default
 !
@@ -112,9 +112,9 @@ module problems
 
 ! subroutine arguments
 !
-    character(len=64), intent(in)    :: problem
-    logical          , intent(in)    :: verbose
-    integer          , intent(inout) :: iret
+    character(len=64), intent(in)  :: problem
+    logical          , intent(in)  :: verbose
+    integer          , intent(out) :: status
 !
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
@@ -129,6 +129,10 @@ module problems
     call start_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */
 
+! reset the status flag
+!
+    status = 0
+
 ! set problem name
 !
     problem_name = problem
@@ -185,11 +189,11 @@ module problems
 !
 !   Arguments:
 !
-!     iret    - an integer flag for error return value;
+!     status - an integer flag for error return value;
 !
 !===============================================================================
 !
-  subroutine finalize_problems(iret)
+  subroutine finalize_problems(status)
 
 ! local variables are not implicit by default
 !
@@ -197,7 +201,7 @@ module problems
 
 ! subroutine arguments
 !
-    integer, intent(inout) :: iret
+    integer, intent(out) :: status
 !
 !-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 !
@@ -207,6 +211,10 @@ module problems
     call start_timer(imi)
 #endif /* PROFILE */
 
+! reset the status flag
+!
+    status = 0
+
 ! nullify procedure pointers
 !
     nullify(setup_problem)