diff --git a/fftools/ffprobe.c b/fftools/ffprobe.c
index f156663019..608d9050f7 100644
--- a/fftools/ffprobe.c
+++ b/fftools/ffprobe.c
@@ -4026,7 +4026,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     WriterContext *wctx;
     char *buf;
     char *w_name = NULL, *w_args = NULL;
-    int ret, i;
+    int ret, input_ret, i;
 
     init_dynload();
 
@@ -4150,10 +4150,14 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
                 show_error(wctx, ret);
         }
 
+        input_ret = ret;
+
         writer_print_section_footer(wctx);
         ret = writer_close(&wctx);
         if (ret < 0)
             av_log(NULL, AV_LOG_ERROR, "Writing output failed: %s\n", av_err2str(ret));
+
+        ret = FFMIN(ret, input_ret);
     }
 
 end: